Edited by Lucia Su\u00e1rez Sang\n <\/p>\n<\/section>\n
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When John Cantrell retired, he decided his new job was to stay healthy. Although he was already in good health and eating well, he wanted to make sure he could see his grandchildren grow up. An avid cyclist, he improved his bike times and started playing pickleball. <\/p>\n
Cantrell made sure to go to the doctor’s appointments. When his cardiologist told him in August 2024 that he had a heart condition called aortic stenosis, he intended to seek treatment immediately. But he wasn’t worried. Since he had no family history of heart disease and had not noticed any symptoms, he believed the condition was in its early stages. <\/p>\n
The next day, while cycling with a friend, Cantrell felt a strange sensation in his chest. <\/p>\n
Cantrell, now 66, told CBS News: “I felt this weird feeling, like my heart was racing.” “It was a really unusual feeling. I said to the group, ‘Okay, let’s turn around and go home.’ And the next thing I knew, I woke up in the emergency room.”<\/p>\n <\/span> John Cantrell (far right) and his family. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n John Cantrell<\/p>\n <\/span> Cantrell suffered broken ribs, a punctured lung and a fractured collarbone. Doctors also confirmed Cantrell’s diagnosis of severe aortic stenosis, which prevented his heart from pumping blood properly, leading to him passing out. Only then did he realize how serious his condition was. <\/p>\n “This is one of those moments in my life that I wish I could do all over again,” Cantrell said. “Man, if I could do this over again, I would never ride my bike the next day. …I should have followed up more diligently.” <\/p>\n Aortic valve stenosis occurs when the aorta, the valve that pumps blood around the body, becomes stiff and narrow and cannot function properly. It is one of the most common types of heart disease in the United States and primarily affects older people, said Dr. Mark Russo, professor and chief of cardiac surgery at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. <\/p>\n Dr. Russo said the diagnosis is not an emergency, but patients need to plan their treatment immediately. He said many patients “underestimate the risks” associated with the condition. Eventually, the aortic valve may malfunction, putting you at risk for serious illness and death. <\/p>\n Healthy aortic valve compared to aortic valve with aortic stenosis. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sakura\/Getty Images<\/p>\n <\/span> “Once a patient develops symptoms, the median survival without treatment is only about 18 months,” said Russo, who did not treat Cantrell. “If it goes untreated for more than five years, almost everyone will die by then. The mortality rate is similar to that of the most advanced cancers.” <\/p>\n Early symptoms of the disease include fatigue and shortness of breath. When people faint like Cantrell, it’s a sign that the disease is progressing, Russo said. <\/p>\n There are no drugs that can prevent or slow the progression of aortic stenosis, Russo said. Patients will eventually require surgery to replace the damaged valve. <\/p>\n There are two options for surgery. One is open-heart surgery, which stops the heart and replaces the valve mechanically, and the other is a minimally invasive procedure called TAVR surgery, which uses a catheter to place a new valve made of living tissue inside the old valve.<\/p>\n Each surgery has advantages and disadvantages. Bioprosthetic valves used in TAVR procedures often do not have as long a lifespan as mechanical options and may need to be replaced again in the future. Russo said about 40 percent of people in their 60s, like Cantrell, will eventually need to be replaced. People with mechanical valves must take blood thinners for the rest of their lives and may need to make lifestyle changes. <\/p>\n A diagram from the Mayo Clinic shows how a replacement valve is inserted during a TAVR procedure.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mayo Medical Education and Research Foundation<\/p>\n <\/span> Studies have shown that the surgeries have comparable outcomes, especially for healthy patients, Russo said. <\/p>\n Cantrell’s care team explained both options and recommended the open heart option. His doctors could not be reached for comment for this story.<\/p>\n Cantrell said open-heart surgery seemed invasive and liked the faster recovery time of TAVR. A friend of mine has also had TAVR surgery and it was recommended to him. <\/p>\n “My doctor said I might choose other surgeries, but I chose TAVR,” Cantrell said. \u201cI really felt like it was the right fit for me.\u201d <\/p>\n Cantrell underwent TAVR surgery in early October after recovering from the crash. The surgery went smoothly. As soon as he woke up, he noticed that he was already feeling better. <\/p>\n “I could always feel my heart beating in my chest. For example, if I put my hand on my heart, I could feel it. I think it was because my heart was working really hard, and I just didn’t notice it,” Cantrell said. <\/p>\n
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWhat is aortic stenosis? <\/h2>\n
![\"Aortic](\"https:\/\/picsura.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/A-retired-grandpa-thought-he-was-healthy-until-he-passed.jpg#.jpeg\")
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\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\nTreatment of aortic valve stenosis <\/h2>\n
![\"Screenshot-2026-02-25-at-2-03-24-pm.png](\"https:\/\/picsura.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775307979_633_A-retired-grandpa-thought-he-was-healthy-until-he-passed.png#.png\")
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\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n“Don’t worry too much.” <\/h2>\n
![\"92514c96-820f-41c1-94e5-5eb4dc20db91.jpg](\"https:\/\/picsura.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775307979_636_A-retired-grandpa-thought-he-was-healthy-until-he-passed.jpg#.jpeg\")
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