A common health condition in which a heart valve does not close properly is called a leaky heart valve. It causes some blood to leak backward with each heartbeat. While this condition can be mild and does not need treatment, some people may develop moderate or severe regurgitation that requires surgery and medicines to improve heart function.
Furthermore, this condition is a type of heart valve disease. Usually, the severity of this condition depends on the amount of blood that flows backward. Mild forms of a leaky heart valve may not cause any symptoms or problems with the heart’s function.
In general, heart valves are similar to doors that control blood flow through the heart. If even one of them does not open or close properly, blood flow can be disrupted, which may cause symptoms. Problems with the heart valves may happen in people with congenital heart defects or certain conditions that appear later in life. Sometimes, this condition is called heart valve regurgitation, heart valve insufficiency, or heart valve incompetence.
A leaky heart valve occurs quite commonly, and the most common form that affects people in the U.S. is mitral valve regurgitation.
Types of Leaky Heart Valves
Healthcare professionals have divided this condition into 4 categories based on the affected valve. Examples include:
- Mitral valve regurgitation – This type of condition happens when the mitral valve does not send enough blood to the left atrium (the top left chamber of the heart). It is usually caused by a weakened mitral valve.
- Aortic valve regurgitation – In such cases, the aortic valve weakens, which affects blood flow to the aorta. Typically, this valve helps send blood from the left ventricle to the aorta.
- Tricuspid valve regurgitation – The tricuspid valve sends blood from the right atrium to the right ventricle. If it is weakened, blood may flow backward into the right atrium.
- Pulmonary valve regurgitation – This type of leaky heart valve happens when the pulmonary valve that sends blood from the right ventricle to the primary pulmonary artery is weakened. As a result, some blood may flow backward into the right ventricle.
What Are The Symptoms of a Leaky Heart Valve?
While mild forms of this condition may not cause any symptoms, moderate or severe types often cause the following symptoms. Check some examples below:
- Chest pain or pressure
- Cough
- Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- Weakness
- Heart palpitations
- Dyspnea (shortness of breath), especially during physical activity
- Swelling (edema) in the legs and feet
If any of the previous symptoms occur, immediately contact your healthcare professional for a diagnosis and treatment.
Causes and Risk Factors
This condition may happen due to multiple reasons. Some of them are listed below:
- Heart tumors
- Damage to the heart muscle from a prior heart attack (also known as myocardial infarction)
- Rheumatic heart disease
- Thoracic aortic aneurysm
- Congenital heart disease
- Cardiomyopathy
- Endocarditis
- Myxomatous degeneration (breakdown of valve tissue) that often happens due to aging
While anyone can develop a leaky heart valve, doctors have identified some factors that could increase the risk. Examples include:
- Aging
- Heart diseases (such as heart failure)
- Infections (such as rheumatic fever)
- Congenital defects
- Genetic factors – If you have a parent or sibling with a leaky heart valve, your risk of developing one significantly increases.
- Chronic health conditions (including hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, and others)
- Lifestyle factors (for example, smoking, lack of physical activity, poor diet, and others)
What Happens if a Leaky Heart Valve is Left Untreated?
When this condition occurs, the heart muscle cannot work properly, which may lead to certain complications. Check some of them below:
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Sudden cardiac arrest
- Heart failure
- Cardiomegaly (enlarged heart muscle)
- Atrial fibrillation (AFib)
- Arrhythmia (irregular heart rhythm)
- Stroke
- Blood clots
This article does not contain a full list of complications, but you can talk with your physician about measures to reduce the risk or even prevent them.
Is There a Way to Prevent a Leaky Heart Valve?
Unfortunately, it is not possible to prevent this condition, but physicians often recommend some tips that can reduce the risk and keep your heart healthy. These include:
- Stop smoking, including all tobacco products – If you have problems with smoking cessation, your physician may recommend some strategies that will help you quit.
- Physical exercise – You should aim for 30 minutes of physical exercise per day, at least 5 days a week. It may also help get or maintain a healthy weight, which is also a risk factor for a leaky heart valve.
- Dietary changes – It is also recommended to follow a heart-healthy diet low in Sodium, sugar, and saturated fats.
- Manage chronic health conditions and infections – For instance, if you have strep throat and leave it untreated, it may lead to heart damage. Administer antibiotics exactly as recommended by your doctor. Otherwise, the infection may return, and it becomes more difficult to treat.
Diagnosis
First, doctors will perform a physical examination to check your vital signs, listen to the heart muscle using a stethoscope, and others. They may also ask some questions about the symptoms and medical history to get more clues about the disease. However, to confirm or rule out a leaky heart valve, physicians often perform an echocardiogram. Sometimes, doctors perform additional tests. For example:
- Heart MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
- Chest X-ray
- Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)
- Cardiac catheterization
- Blood tests
Treatment
Physicians usually prescribe different treatments for people with a leaky heart valve because they depend on several factors. These include the severity of the condition, overall health, age, and preferences. Check some common options below:
- Medicines to prevent or manage complications and relieve symptoms (such as fluid buildup)
- Heart valve surgery – This treatment is used to repair or replace a damaged heart valve. Rarely, doctors may perform a minimally invasive procedure to treat a leaky heart valve.
- Catheter-based procedures – They are also used to replace a heart valve.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I go to the emergency room?
Immediately call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room (ER) if any of the following symptoms occur. These include angina (heart-related chest pain), dizziness, and loss of consciousness.
How serious is a leaky heart valve?
The severity of this condition ranges from mild to severe. Doctors usually determine the severity of a leaky heart valve based on the following factors, including the anatomy of the valve, blood flow through the valve, the symptoms, and how the leaky valve affects heart function. Sometimes, this condition can be a serious problem, especially if it negatively affects the heart function.
Do I need treatment for my leaky valve?
While mild cases of this condition do not cause symptoms and do not need treatment, if it affects the heart function, causes symptoms, strains the heart, threatens to shorten your lifespan, or interferes with your daily activities, you need surgery to repair or replace the damaged heart valve. If you have additional questions, ask your healthcare provider.
