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What Causes Leaky Heart Valves?

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Posted on Fri, 11 Jul 2014
Question: i was told by my heart doctor that I have a valve or some valves leaking and the blood is basically backflowing in my heart. is this common or is it something to be alarmed about? this is the first time they have told me this and I have had several echocardiograms before and never came up til now. is a leaky valve the same as a heart murmur? I am 45 yrs old male and have had a heart murmur since I was born.

doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Rovena (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
You need a full evaluation of your heart.

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

I read carefully your query and understand your concern.
In order to understand your valve problem,you first need to understand something about normal function of the heart.

The heart’s job is to pump blood throughout the entire body.
The normal heart has two distinct sides and four “holding areas” called chambers for circulating blood.
Heart has 4 valves:
-Tricuspid valve that allow blood to flow from the top right chamber to the lower right chamber (or from right atrium to right ventricle).
-Pulmonary valve,it function is to allow blood to be pumped from the heart to the lungs (through the pulmonary artery).
-Mitral valve that allow blood to pass from the upper left side to the lower left side of the heart.
-Aortic valve that allow blood to leave the heart (from the left ventricle to the aorta and on to the body).

Each heart valve has 2 important functions: 1)To open correctly so that blood can empty from the chamber 2) To close properly so that blood cannot flow the wrong way.

Leaky valves are often referred to as “regurgitant valves” or by the condition known as valve regurgitation.Leaking valves can cause the heart to work harder to pump the same amount of blood.
Valve regurgitation can come on suddenly or it may develop gradually over decades
Mild aortic regurgitation produces no symptoms other than a characteristic heart murmur that can be heard with the stethoscope during a physical examination.

Since your cardiologist has told you that the blood is backflowing in your heart,I suppose you might have Aortic valve regurgitation or Pulmonary valve regurgitation.

A leaky valve is a heart condition when one of heart valves doesn't work properly and for this cause the blood flow is not normal causing a heart murmur during physical examination of your heart.(so leaky valve is a condition and a heart murmur is a physical finding).

Since you had this heart murmur since you were born,it means that you had a problem with one of your heart valve since then.
This conditions might cause no symptoms for many years and can be diagnosed late when the heart can't support the extra work due to valve leaking and you might start having symptoms.
Over time, the back-up and resulting changes to the heart as it compensates can lead to heart failure.

The treatment depends on the severity of valve leaking.

You need a full evaluation of your heart : ECG, Heart ultrasound , Chest X-ray , CT scan in order to evaluate carefully the significance of the valve leaking.

If you have already done these,and your doctors told that you have nothing to worry about,it means that this valve leaking is very small and cause no problem for the blood flow.

Hope my answer has helped.
Let me know if you have any further question.
Take care

Dr.Rovena Murati
Note: click here to Consult a cardiac surgeon online. to know the best treatment option for your heart-related issues

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Rovena

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2013

Answered : 1243 Questions

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What Causes Leaky Heart Valves?

Brief Answer: You need a full evaluation of your heart. Detailed Answer: Hello! I read carefully your query and understand your concern. In order to understand your valve problem,you first need to understand something about normal function of the heart. The heart’s job is to pump blood throughout the entire body. The normal heart has two distinct sides and four “holding areas” called chambers for circulating blood. Heart has 4 valves: -Tricuspid valve that allow blood to flow from the top right chamber to the lower right chamber (or from right atrium to right ventricle). -Pulmonary valve,it function is to allow blood to be pumped from the heart to the lungs (through the pulmonary artery). -Mitral valve that allow blood to pass from the upper left side to the lower left side of the heart. -Aortic valve that allow blood to leave the heart (from the left ventricle to the aorta and on to the body). Each heart valve has 2 important functions: 1)To open correctly so that blood can empty from the chamber 2) To close properly so that blood cannot flow the wrong way. Leaky valves are often referred to as “regurgitant valves” or by the condition known as valve regurgitation.Leaking valves can cause the heart to work harder to pump the same amount of blood. Valve regurgitation can come on suddenly or it may develop gradually over decades Mild aortic regurgitation produces no symptoms other than a characteristic heart murmur that can be heard with the stethoscope during a physical examination. Since your cardiologist has told you that the blood is backflowing in your heart,I suppose you might have Aortic valve regurgitation or Pulmonary valve regurgitation. A leaky valve is a heart condition when one of heart valves doesn't work properly and for this cause the blood flow is not normal causing a heart murmur during physical examination of your heart.(so leaky valve is a condition and a heart murmur is a physical finding). Since you had this heart murmur since you were born,it means that you had a problem with one of your heart valve since then. This conditions might cause no symptoms for many years and can be diagnosed late when the heart can't support the extra work due to valve leaking and you might start having symptoms. Over time, the back-up and resulting changes to the heart as it compensates can lead to heart failure. The treatment depends on the severity of valve leaking. You need a full evaluation of your heart : ECG, Heart ultrasound , Chest X-ray , CT scan in order to evaluate carefully the significance of the valve leaking. If you have already done these,and your doctors told that you have nothing to worry about,it means that this valve leaking is very small and cause no problem for the blood flow. Hope my answer has helped. Let me know if you have any further question. Take care Dr.Rovena Murati