Heart Valve Leakage - What Should You Know?

A heart has four valves containing three flaps each, responsible for the normal one-way blood flow from the heart. The moment any of the valves starts leaking, it causes the blood to flow in the backward direction instead of flowing forward when the heart squeezes the blood and pump it forward, it is known as heart valve leakage or valve regurgitation. To deal with the heart valve leakage, consulting with a cardiologist and opting for the necessary treatment right away is the best solution.

Heart valve leakage can develop gradually over time or can occur all of a sudden. While diseases like rheumatic heart disease, Marfan syndrome often lead to this condition, endocarditis or the valve infection or high blood pressure may also contribute to the condition. For some, the presence of two flaps in the bicuspid aortic valve, instead of three is the reason behind valve leakage. The treatment for heart valve leakage often depends on the severity and the cause.

For minor valve regurgitation, there are usually no symptoms. But when the heart valve leakage becomes severe and seriously impairs the right flow of blood it can cause symptoms like breathlessness and leg swelling or the retention of fluid elsewhere in the body, along with rapid heartbeat, dizziness, fatigue, heart fluttering, etc. It is to be noted that having a slightly leaky valve is very common for even the healthiest person, as long as it doesn t disrupt the blood flow.

Doing light exercise daily like walking can help one improve the heart condition. Anything that improves the heart health such as quitting smoking or maintaining a healthy weight also helps in dealing with minor valve leakage. However, when the valve leakage becomes severe, surgical replacement or repairing becomes the only way of dealing with the condition. Before engaging in any strenuous activities such as contact or competitive sports, people with severe heart valve leakage needs to consult with their doctor.