Valvular regurgitation is one of the most common cardiovascular diseases and can occur at any age. Therefore, many individuals diagnosed with valvular regurgitation often feel anxious and concerned, wondering whether the condition can be treated and whether it may become life threatening. The article below will provide you with additional useful information to help you better understand this condition.
What is valvular regurgitation?
Valvular regurgitation is a common and potentially serious cardiovascular disorder. This condition occurs when one or more cardiac valves fail to close completely, allowing blood to flow backward into the cardiac chamber during myocardial contraction.
As regurgitant flow increases, the heart must work harder to compensate for the volume overload, resulting in increased hemodynamic stress. Over time, this compensatory mechanism may lead to progressive decline in cardiac function and render the myocardium more susceptible to structural damage and heart failure.
The human cardiac valves function similarly to one way valves in a mechanical pump system, ensuring unidirectional blood flow. Blood returns to the heart through the venous system and is subsequently propelled into the arterial circulation, without flowing backward under normal physiological conditions.
In the absence of cardiac valves, the heart would be unable to generate effective forward flow to perfuse the body, as blood would circulate in both directions. When valvular regurgitation occurs, the efficiency of blood circulation is compromised, making cardiac output less effective and increasing the workload on the myocardium.
Causes of heart valve regurgitation
Heart valve regurgitation may arise from two primary causes:
Congenital heart disease: Some individuals are born with structural abnormalities of the heart valves. These congenital defects may impair valve function from birth and lead to regurgitation later in life.
Acquired conditions: In many cases, valve regurgitation develops due to medical conditions acquired over time. These are commonly divided into two major groups:
- Rheumatic valvular disease: Valve damage occurring as a complication of rheumatic fever or rheumatic heart disease.
- Degenerative valvular disease: Valve deterioration associated with aging or with medical conditions that accelerate degenerative changes in cardiac structures.
In addition to degenerative changes, other cardiovascular conditions may also damage the heart valves, such as myocardial infarction or myocardial ischemia. When the valve apparatus is injured, the supporting structures including chordae tendineae and papillary muscles may rupture or weaken, resulting in valve regurgitation.
Certain less common conditions may also contribute to valve dysfunction, including aortic aneurysm, dilated cardiomyopathy, and infective endocarditis, all of which can impair normal valve closure and lead to regurgitation.
Signs of heart valve regurgitation
In the early stages, when heart valve regurgitation is still mild, patients may not notice any clear symptoms. In many cases, the condition is only discovered during routine health check-ups.
There are several signs that may indicate heart valve regurgitation, including:
Shortness of breath
This is the most common symptom. Patients may experience increasing difficulty breathing, especially those with pulmonary valve regurgitation or mitral valve regurgitation. The symptom often becomes more noticeable when lying down.
Fatigue
Because the heart cannot pump blood effectively throughout the body, people with valve regurgitation often feel tired. In severe cases or during intense physical activity, patients may even faint.
Rapid heartbeat
Many people mistakenly think a fast heartbeat only indicates tachycardia or arrhythmia. However, it can also be an early sign of mitral valve regurgitation.
Other symptoms
Patients may also experience dizziness, lightheadedness, swelling in the legs or ankles, and frequent coughing at night.
Treatment for heart valve regurgitation
Heart valve regurgitation is a serious condition that can significantly affect overall health. If it is not detected and treated early, it may lead to severe complications and even become life threatening.
Treatment depends on the stage at which the disease is diagnosed.
Conservative treatment
If the condition is mild, surgery may not be necessary. Doctors will advise patients to adjust their diet and lifestyle to help control the condition and live safely with the disease.
Surgical treatment
Surgery may be recommended to prevent the disease from worsening. When the heart valve is severely damaged and symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, or fatigue appear, which may increase the risk of heart failure, cardiologists may indicate surgery to stop the progression of the disease.
Heart valve replacement surgery is required when the valve is severely damaged. There are two main types of surgery:
Heart valve repair surgery
For regurgitant valves, doctors will determine the cause of the leakage and apply appropriate techniques such as cutting or suturing to help the valve leaflets close properly.
Heart valve replacement surgery
When the valve damage is too severe and repair is no longer effective, the damaged valve must be removed and replaced with an artificial valve. The replacement valve may be a mechanical valve or a biological valve, depending on the doctor’s recommendation.
Advice for people with heart valve regurgitation
Reader may also be interested in:
- Valvular stenosis: Clinical manifestations, etiologies, management, and prevention
- Cardiomyopathy: Early detection and timely management to prevent serious complications
- Is valvular heart disease life-threatening? Clinical manifestations and contemporary therapeutic approaches
To ensure effective treatment and help patients live safely with heart valve regurgitation, the following recommendations should be followed:
Monitor blood pressure regularly
Check your blood pressure frequently and treat hypertension if present, as high blood pressure makes the heart work harder.
Follow a low salt diet
To reduce strain on the heart and lower the risk of high blood pressure, you should control your diet by eating less salt and fat. Regularly check blood lipid levels to help prevent coronary artery disease, which may affect the heart muscle and worsen valve regurgitation.
Avoid coffee and alcohol
Coffee and alcoholic beverages can increase the risk of heart rhythm disturbances in people with heart valve regurgitation. Therefore, these drinks should be limited or avoided to protect cardiovascular health.
Maintain a healthy weight
Being overweight or obese can place additional strain on the heart. Regular exercise, balanced daily routines, and a healthy diet can help maintain a stable weight and support heart health.
With the strong advances of modern medicine, cardiovascular diseases such as heart valve regurgitation, coronary artery disease, and aortic aneurysm can be treated more effectively when detected early. Therefore, to protect your health and that of your family and maintain a healthy heart, you should proactively undergo periodic health check ups every six months to detect potential conditions early.
Register for a cardiovascular examination with specialists with more than 20 years of experience at Hong Ngoc General Hospital here.
Note: The information provided in this article by Hong Ngoc General Hospital is for reference only and does not replace medical diagnosis or treatment. To determine the exact medical condition, patients should visit a hospital to receive direct examination, diagnosis, and appropriate treatment advice from qualified doctors.
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