Although he lost a good chunk of time in his career, Stefan Struve is fortunate to be returning to the cage after a heart condition put his health at risk. It’s even more fortunate that doctors discovered the UFC heavyweight’s condition when they did. A warning sign apparently was missed. According to a letter submitted to the Nevada State Athletic Commission prior to the fighter’s licensing for Saturday’s UFC 175, there was a substantial gap between the UFC heavyweight’s first heart issue and the diagnosis of bicuspid aortic value, a congenital condition that causes blood to back up in the heart and causes high blood pressure, among other symptoms. An EKG performed on Struve in 2009 revealed blood leaking back into his heart, according to Ram Dandillaya, a Los Angeles-based cardiologist, but it wasn’t until an apparent fainting episode four years later that doctors examined him further and discovered the condition. “At that time, the patient was felt to be at risk and was advised not to continue with his athletic activity,” wrote Dandillaya, who provided a detailed medical background on the fighter to Dr.
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Doctor: Struve’s heart troubles noticed four years prior to diagnosis – MMA Junkie