Heart Valve Leakage – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment
Maintaining a healthy heart is a must for any health conscious individual. That being said, heart valves are a major concern if they are not functioning properly. Heart valve leakage can lead to a plethora of complications. Symptoms of heart valve leakage may include an increase in blood pressure or backing up of blood into the heart, causing the heart to pump less blood back into the body. Furthermore, serious heart valve leakage can cause arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms), endocarditic (infection of the heart valves), heart failure, and stroke.
A heart valve (or heart valves) can develop problems before birth, or problems can develop during one’s lifetime. Heart valve leakage causes can include a few things. The accumulation of calcium in a heart valve (degenerative calcification) affects about a third of people over the age of 70. Heart valves may also deteriorate over time which is quite common. This is known as Myxomatous degeneration; it can cause the heart valves to become flimsy and thus leak. Rheumatic fever can cause heart valve leakage; though it is a rare childhood illness that only develops once strep throat is not treated properly.
Heart valve disorders can usually be found during a routine physical check-up with a family physician. The doctor can do this by listening to the heart to see if the rhythm is irregular. Heart valves can be inspected by use of an echocardiography (an ultrasound of the heart).
Antihypertensive drugs are typically used to treat heart valve disease by causing the arteries to widen (dilate). This decreases the amount of work the heart has to do and therefore lowers blood pressure.
However, in some instances it may be necessary to have heart valve surgery. Heart valve repair (or heart valve replacement) can be very effective; although it is a higher risk to older individuals, life span can often be prolonged more effectively. Heart valve surgery usually involves removing excess tissue from the damaged heart valve(s), and implanting a supporting ring. This type of heart valve repair is much more effective in the long run. Heart valve surgery usually runs less risk than not having the heart valve repaired.
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