A leaky heart valve also known as heart valve regurgitation or valve insufficiency is a heart valve that does not close properly. As the heart pumps, some blood leaks back through the valve.
The potential causes of a leaky heart valve rangeTrusted Source from infections to autoimmune diseases. Some people have no signs that they have the condition, while others experience symptoms such as shortness of breath and dizziness.
Doctors treat leaky heart valve with medications, surgery, or a combination of the two.
Read on to learn more about leaky heart valves, including the symptoms, causes, and treatment.
The heart has four valvesTrusted Source. Each valve must open and close at the right times to pump oxygen-rich blood around the body. The valves have flaps that keep blood flowing in one direction, preventing it from flowing backward.
However, a leaky heart valve does not close properly, which can allow some blood to flow back through it. This is a type of valvular disease.
Valvular disease can affect any of the four heart valves. These are:
- Tricuspid valve: This has three flaps and sits between the right atrium and right ventricle.
- Mitral valve: This consists of two flaps and sits between the left atrium and left ventricle.
- Pulmonary valve: This has three flaps and sits between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery, which is the vessel that carries blood to the lungs.
- Aortic valve: This consists of three flaps and sits between the left ventricle and the aorta, which is the vessel that carries blood to the rest of the body.
The aortic valve is the most common valve to leak.
Is a leaky heart valve serious?
A leaky heart valve is potentially serious. A leaky heart valve places strain on the heart, as it makes it more difficult for a person’s heart to pump blood. It can also preventTrusted Source the rest of the body’s organs and tissues from receiving enough blood.
However, a leaky heart valve can be mild or severe. Some people do not experience any symptoms and may not know they have a leaky heart valve. Others may develop symptoms over time.
If the condition is severe, a person may experience heart failure or a sudden heart attack.
Symptoms of a leaky heart valve
People who develop heart valve disease gradually may not experience any symptoms for a long time.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source, people who develop sudden heart valve disease may experience one or more of the following symptoms:
- shortness of breath
- chest pain
- fatigue
- dizziness or fainting
- fever
- rapid weight gain
- irregular heartbeat
Causes of a leaky heart valve
Several factors can cause a leaky heart valve. The possible causes vary depending on the affected valve.
Some common causesTrusted Source of aortic valve regurgitation include:
- weakening due to aging
- damage due to high blood pressure
- bacterial infection of the heart tissue
- untreated syphilis
- injury
Possible causes of mitral valve regurgitation include:
- wear and tear due to aging
- damage due to high blood pressure
- cardiomyopathy, a stretching, thickening, or stiffening of the walls of the heart
- endocarditis, an infection of the heart’s inner lining
- congenital heart disease, which is a heart condition that a person is born with
Possible causesTrusted Source of tricuspid valve regurgitation include:
- an enlarged right ventricle
- valve infection
- Marfan syndrome
- rheumatoid arthritis
- rheumatic fever
- injury
- carcinoid tumors
- myxomatous degeneration, which is a mechanical problem that occurs due to problems making collagen
- the banned diet drug “fen-phen,” a combination of fenfluramine and phentermine
Possible causesTrusted Source of pulmonary valve regurgitation include:
- pulmonary hypertension
- infective endocarditis
- complications after surgery to repair congenital heart defects
- carcinoid syndrome, which is a set of symptoms associated with having carcinoid tumors
- rheumatic fever
- complications after catheterization for a medical procedure
This is not a comprehensive list of all possible causes of valvular disease. For a diagnosis, a person should speak with a cardiologist.
Diagnosis
To diagnose a leaky heart valve, doctors review a person’s medical history and perform a physical examination. This involves checking the person’s symptoms and assessing their risk factors, such as whether the condition runs in the family.
Doctors may alsoTrusted Source perform one or more of the following diagnostic tests on the heart:
- Echocardiogram: This uses sound waves to create moving pictures of the heart.
- Electrocardiogram: This detects and records the heart’s electrical activity.
- Chest X-ray: This involves using radiation to take pictures of the structures in and around the chest.
- Stress test: This involves a person walking on a treadmill or cycling on a stationary bike to test how well the heart works under physical stress.
Treatment
People who do not experience symptoms of leaky heart valve do not require treatment. However, a person may need treatment if the condition has the potential to reduce the quality or length of their life.
Lifestyle changes and medication may be enoughTrusted Source for people with mild symptoms. In more advanced cases, doctors may recommend one of two types of surgery: valve repair or valve replacement.
Valve repair
A doctor may suggest valve repair if a person has new symptoms, or if their existing symptoms worsen. There are several waysTrusted Source a surgeon can do this, such as:
- fixing valve flaps
- repairing supporting structures
- tightening or strengthening the base of the valve
- inserting a stent to prevent leakage
- for mitral valve leakage, implanting a device
Valve replacement
A doctor may recommend valve replacement if valve repair is not an option.
Replacement heart valves can be biological, meaning they consist of human or animal tissue, or mechanical. Biological valves do notTrusted Source last as long, but mechanical valves require a person to take blood thinning medication for the rest of their life.
Surgeons can implant valves by opening the person’s chest cavity. Alternatively, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a minimallyTrusted Source invasive technique that specifically helps with aortic valve leaking.
To perform TAVR, a surgeon inserts the new valve into the old one. They can do this using a catheter with a balloon, which carries the replacement valve to the correct place in the heart. Another method involves making a minimally invasive incision in the chest and entering the heart through an artery or left ventricle.
Lifestyle changes for a leaky heart valve
A person with leaky heart valve can take measures to support their health. The American College of Cardiology offers some key tips for managing the condition. These include:
- taking all medications according to a doctor’s instructions
- following their exercise recommendations
- maintaining muscle mass
- limiting salt intake to prevent fluid retention
- eating a heart-healthy diet, with plenty of fruits and vegetables and few saturated fats
- keeping blood pressure under control
- talking with a doctor about any changes in symptoms or body weight
People should not engage in vigorous exercise without consulting a doctor first.
If a person gains 2–3 pounds (lb) overnight or gains 5 lb in a week, they should speak with a doctor as soon as possible.
