Signs and Symptoms
Patients who are suffering from a leaking heart valve must know that there are a variety of various valvular disorders and also a large number of heart valve diseases that are responsible for triggering the leaky heart valve symptoms.
However, one of the main and also the most common cause of a leaking heart valve is the result of a diseased heart valve that has been experiencing valvular regurgitation. This regurgitation has a tremendously negative impact on the flow of blood that crosses each of the four valves in the heart, namely the aortic valve, mitral valve, tricuspid valve and the pulmonary valve.
The body functions properly when the valves do their function of helping the blood pass through one direction. Whenever the blood passes through these valves, the valves close and thus leave the blood with no other option than to travel upwards. In case of a leaking heart valve, the valves do not close properly. This ultimately forces the heart to work harder since it needs to make an extra effort to make the blood pass through the valve. If left unattended, this can eventually lead to a host of leaking heart valve symptoms and also an enlarged heart. This condition is commonly called a dilated heart, and medically referred to as cardiomegaly. This can lead to further problems in the body, some of them such as filling of fluid in the lungs, abnormal rhythms of the heart, blood clots, edema and also cardiac failure.
Symptoms of a leaking heart valve: Listed below are some of the most common symptoms that occur in case of a leaking heart valve. These are:
- Fatigue – this is especially experienced in case of increased activity.
- Shortness of breath – especially when you lie down and also with exertion.
- Cough – Mostly at night or when you are resting.
- Palpitations of the heart – makes you have sensations of a fluttering and rapid heartbeat.
- Swollen feet and ankles.
- Murmuring of the heart – This is also one of the most primary factors for the doctors to decide if you have a leaking heart valve.
- Excessive urination.
- Acute pain in the chest (also medically termed as angina) or tightness.
- Fainting with exertion or feeling faint or dizzy.
There is however, a condition associated with the leakage of heart valves. It is not essential for a patient suffering from this disease to experience the symptoms. There are quite a lot of people who suffer mildly from this condition, but do not experience any of these symptoms. This is also the reason why many cases of leaking heart valves go undetected.