Hello!

Thank you for asking on HCM!

Regarding your concern, I would like to explain that a heart valve leakage; that is valvular regurgitation is a continuous progressive disorder, which left untreated may lead to symptomatic heart failure.

The main symptoms and signs of a progressive valvular regurgitations are extreme fatigue, dyspnea, pulmonary and systemic congestion (edema), coughing, etc. They are sometimes misdiagnosed as bronchitis, but in fact are related to devreased left ventricular dysfunction and increased fillimg pressure due to valves regurgitations (when on the advance stage of this disorder).

I would advice a close medical follow up, taking into consideration clinical symptomatology as well as cardiac tests (especially cardiac ultrasound) for a better staging of the disease, optimisating heart failure management strategy and properly defining the time of surgery (as facing the actual clinical scenario, that indication seems to be very actual).

A delayed surgical intervetion would have detrimental effects for the cardiac performance and could deteriorate further heart failure conditions.

Hope to have been helpful to you! Greetings! Dr. Iliri

Dr. Hanif warmly welcomes you!

Thanks for consulting at my virtual clinic HCM. I have carefully worked through your case, and can well realize your health worries. Being your physician, I want to assure, I will take care all of your medical concerns.



It is very abnormal situation and definitely will lead to deterioration of the heart's function and weakness in your family member.


From the history, what I have calculated is that this patient has Mitral Valve Regurgitation. This is the most common disease among the valvular disorders of the heart known.

Mitral Valve is the valve between the two chambers on the left side of the heart (left atrium and left ventricle). When blood is pumped by the left ventricle towards Aorta (to be delivered to the whole body) it back-flows due to the pressure and incompetent mitral valve which has not closed properly. A portion of the blood passes back to left atrium (the upper chamber) from the left ventricle. This portion of blood is deficient in left ventricular output and is immediately sensed by the baroreceptors (the blood pressure measuring receptors in body).

Now heart becomes mad as if heart isn't doing its work properly. So, it beats as a racing horse to fulfill the demand of the body and to replenish the deficient blood that gets deficient with every beating/pumping of the heart.

Yes, it causes Congestive Heart Failure soon if not treated early. Symptoms will be the same as having a Bronchitis (Infection of the airways) e.g. cough, sputum, fever, shortness of breath and swelling in the peripheries like ankles and legs. This kind of situation (if happens in future) keep in mind that it may be a deteriorating heart function sign, not merely a lung infection.


How actually the heart Fails (as you are curious about the disease progression so I want to explain a bit):-
The back-pressure increases in the left atrium (the upper left chamber of heart) and it is transmitted back to the lungs via the Pulmonary veins (Blood vessels taking oxygenated blood back from lungs into the left atrium).

Lungs capillaries get high pressure and fluid accumulates in the Alveoli (the small balloons inside lungs where gaseous exchange occur between and air and blood---oxygen comes into blood and CO2 goes out to the air through exhalation).

Management Guidelines for your Relative:-
If a patient come to me with the same situation I usually prescribe medications according to the situation and disease severity:
**Blood pressure lowering and heart rate slowing drugs, Blood thinning substances, Water pills to remove the accumulated fluid from the lungs and making an ease in breathing to the patient.



Hope I answered all of your questions. Please don't forget to add your precious positive feedback to help me able to assist you better in future too. Have a wonderful time ahead. Keep in touch for a follow-up too to let me know if you have any doubts & need further assistance. I am available 24/7 for your help. Have a blessed time ahead.

Regards!
DR. MUHAMMAD HANIF
USA