Can you live a long life with a leaky heart valve?

O'HAIR: Researchers have discovered that most individuals with a mild leak in the valve are still alive five years after diagnosis. However, for those with a severe leak that goes untreated, survival drops way off, hovering around 60% surviving at five years.


Does a leaky heart valve shorten your life?

Heart valve leakage/regurgitation can force the heart to work harder to do its job. The condition can lead to heart failure, sudden cardiac arrest, and death.

Does a leaky heart valve get worse over time?

Life expectancy depends on many factors, including a person's overall health and age, and the severity of the leak. In many cases, the leaky valves get worse with time. It is important to seek prompt treatment if a person thinks they might have a leaking heart valve or any other heart health problem.


What happens if a leaky heart valve is not repaired?

Left untreated, leaky heart valves can cause serious complications, including heart failure, atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) or pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lung's vessels). The good news is that valve problems are often quite treatable.

Can a leaky heart valve be fixed without surgery?

Answer: Yes, there's a minimally invasive procedure that uses a catheter -- TAVR -- that may be a better choice for some people who are at moderate to high risk of complications from open heart surgery. TAVR stands for transcatheter aortic valve replacement.


Valve Regurgitation: When a Heart Valve Leaks



How long can you go with a leaky heart valve?

O'HAIR: Researchers have discovered that most individuals with a mild leak in the valve are still alive five years after diagnosis. However, for those with a severe leak that goes untreated, survival drops way off, hovering around 60% surviving at five years. So, it matters how bad your valve leaks.

What is the best treatment for a leaky heart valve?

Treatments include medicines, surgical repair, or surgical replacement of the leaky valve. Observation over time for changes is the most common approach to a leaky heart valve.

How do I know if my leaky heart valve is getting worse?

As aortic valve regurgitation worsens, signs and symptoms may include: Shortness of breath with exercise or when you lie down. Fatigue and weakness, especially when you increase your activity level. Heart murmur.


How common is leaky heart valve?

Leaky heart valves are a relatively common problem, especially in older adults. Over time, they can make your heart work harder, causing serious damage — and uncomfortable symptoms. Fortunately, leaky valves are treatable.

How often should a leaky heart valve be checked?

Most of the time, a leaky mitral valve does not require treatment. Since it is a slowly progressive disease, yearly follow-up is a necessity to monitor for development of heart failure. Evaluating the severity of the problem frequently will make the decision to surgically repair or replace the faulty valve easier.

Does exercise help leaky heart valve?

Exercise is an essential tool in managing heart valve disease. If you've received a diagnosis of heart valve disease, you can start or continue many popular physical activities, like walking and swimming.


When does a leaky heart valve need surgery?

If one or more valves become leaky, blood leaks backwards, which means less blood is pumped in the right direction. Based on your symptoms and the overall condition of your heart, your healthcare provider may decide that the diseased valve(s) needs to be surgically repaired or replaced.

What is the most common heart valve to leak?

Mitral valve regurgitation is a type of heart valve disease in which the valve between the left heart chambers doesn't close completely, allowing blood to leak backward across the valve. It is the most common type of heart valve disease (valvular heart disease).

What causes heart valves to start leaking?

Trauma can cause valves to leak, as can infection of the heart valve or damage from rheumatic fever. High blood pressure, pulmonary hypertension, and an enlarged heart can also cause leaking valves. Some heart surgeries to correct heart defects in children may result in leaking valves later in life.


What happens when a heart valve becomes leaky?

If the valve doesn't close fully, the blood will leak back into the heart instead of forwards into the body. This is called valve incompetence, valve regurgitation or a leaky valve. These problems can put extra strain on your heart and make your heart work harder.

What symptoms would you see if a person has leaky valves?

mitral regurgitation – the valve leaks and blood flows the wrong way. mitral stenosis – the valve does not open as wide as it should.
...
Mitral valve prolapse can sometimes cause:
  • dizziness.
  • breathlessness.
  • tiredness.
  • an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) or noticeable heartbeats (palpitations)
  • mitral regurgitation.


What are the signs of needing a heart valve replacement?

When signs and symptoms occur, they might include:
  • Whooshing sound (heart murmur) when a doctor is listening to the heart with a stethoscope.
  • Chest pain.
  • Abdominal swelling (more common with advanced tricuspid regurgitation)
  • Fatigue.
  • Shortness of breath, particularly when active or lying down.


Is it better to repair a heart valve or to replace it?

Replacing it can actually decrease your heart function. Not only does a repair let you keep your own valve, but it improves survival rates and carries a lower risk of: Bleeding. Thromboembolism, which is a blood clot in a vein or artery.

How can I make my heart valves stronger?

5 Ways to Care for Your Aortic Valve
  1. Eat a heart-healthy diet. People with high cholesterol may see their aortic valve narrow much faster than people with healthy cholesterol levels. ...
  2. Keep blood pressure in check. ...
  3. Quit smoking. ...
  4. Keep your teeth and gums healthy. ...
  5. Get your heart murmur checked.


Can a leaky heart valve be fixed with medication?

Although medications can serve a very important purpose, there is no medication that will stop a valve from leaking. Likewise, there's no medication that will open a valve that's too constricted.


Which drink is best for heart?

6 Drinks to Boost Heart Health
  • Pomegranate juice. According to experts, pomegranates are uniquely healthy fruits for your heart. ...
  • Coffee. Studies have shown that people who drink 3-5 cups of coffee per day have a significantly lower risk of heart disease, stroke and heart failure. ...
  • Tea. ...
  • Tomato juice. ...
  • Green juice. ...
  • Smoothies.


What foods should I avoid with leaky heart valves?

Cut out foods that are high in saturated fats, such as full fat whole milk and other dairy products, high fat cuts of meat and tropical oils, and trans fat that is typically found in margarine, baked goods, crackers and fried fast foods. Make sure to get plenty of fluids.

Can a heart valve be replaced without open heart surgery?

Aortic valve replacement may be done using open-heart surgery or minimally invasive methods, which involve smaller incisions than those used in open-heart surgery. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a type of minimally invasive aortic valve replacement.


Which valve is most important?

Aortic valve: This valve has three leaflets. They open to let blood flow from your heart's left ventricle to the aorta. The aorta is the largest blood vessel in your body. It brings oxygenated blood from your heart to the rest of your body.
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