Leaking Heart Valve Symptoms, Causes & Problems
By Adam Pick, Patient & Author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery
As I personally experienced, patients with leaky heart valves should know that several different heart valve diseases, infections and disorders can trigger symptoms. The main cause of leaking heart valve symptoms results from an abnormal heart valve structure that enables blood to flow, or leak, in the wrong direction. This is medically referred to as valvular regurgitation.
Regurgitation can negatively impact the flow of blood across each of your four heart valves - the aortic valve, the pulmonary valve, the mitral valve and the tricuspid valve. However, the most common forms of regurgitation are:
- Mitral regurgitation in which blood leaks backward from the left ventricle to the left atrium.
- Aortic regurgitation in which blood leaks backward from the aorta to the left ventricle.
Often times, this anatomical issues which cause a leaky heart valve are related to the tissue leaflets (e.g. mitral leaflets) or the annulus (e.g. mitral annulus) of the valve. The most common leaking valve disorder is known as mitral valve prolapse.
Leaking Heart Valve Symptoms & Asymptomatic Patients
According to several referernces, cardiologist and surgeons, the most common leaking heart valve symptoms are:
- Shortness of breath, especially with exertion or when you lie down
- Fatigue, especially during times of increased activity
- Cough, especially at night or when lying down
- Heart palpitations — sensations of a rapid, fluttering heartbeat
- Swollen feet or ankles
- Heart murmur
- Excessive urination
- Chest pain (angina) or tightness
- Feeling faint or fainting with exertion
- Dizziness
However, it is very critical to note that leaking heart valve symptoms do not always appear, or manifest, simultaneously for a patient. Many patients can be asymptomatic even though they suffer from mild, moderate, or even severe heart valve disease.
The Potential Problems With Leaking Heart Valves
As you can imagine, leaky heart valves force the cardiac muscle to "work harder" as the heart re-pumps blood through a valve. Over time, this can lead to leaking heart valve symptoms and an enlarged heart, also known as a dilated heart or cardiomegaly. The long-term effects of cardiomegaly are:
- Fluid in the lungs
- Abnormal heart rhythms
- Edema
- Blood clots
- Congestive heart failure
My Personal Story With Leaky Heart Valve Symptoms
I had a severely leaking aortic valve when I learned that I needed heart valve replacement surgery. So you know, I only had one symptom which led me to seek medical help.
That said, I highly encourage you to visit your doctor if you are experiencing any of the leaking heart valve symptoms identified above or you have been previously diagnosed with valvular regurgitation or a heart murmur.
So you know, some heart valve diseases can be identified by listening to your heart with a stethoscope. This is usually the first step in diagnosing heart valve disease or a potential leak in the valve.
To Learn More About Leaking Heart Valves:
If you would like to learn more about leaking heart valves, you may want to read these related posts:
- Video: "Is It Common To Have Mitral Regurgitation and Atrial Fibrillation?" Asks Donny
- Patient Sucess Story: Denise Ring Feels Like Herself After Mitral Valve Repair
- Video: "Should Asymptomatic Patients With Leaky Heart Valves Have Surgery?" Asks John
