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What Happens When a Heart Valve Leaks?
Valve Function and Regurgitation
The heart is made up of four chambers: the right and left atria and the right and left ventricles. Blood enters the heart in the right atrium and travels to the right ventricle, then to the lungs (via the pulmonary artery). Blood re-enters the heart via the left atrium and goes to the left ventricle, where it is pumped out of the heart via the aorta. The American Heart Association explains that each time blood leaves one of the chambers of the heart, it is kept from flowing backward by a valve 1. Sometimes the heart valves can become damaged or have a defect that keeps them from fully closing, causing them to become leaky. This causes a condition known as heart valve regurgitation
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
- The heart is made up of four chambers: the right and left atria and the right and left ventricles.
- Blood re-enters the heart via the left atrium and goes to the left ventricle, where it is pumped out of the heart via the aorta.
Direct Effects of Leaky Heart Valve
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When a heart valve becomes leaky, blood begins to flow in reverse of its normal direction. This means that when the heart pumps blood, not as much blood is pumped forward. According to the Texas Heart Institute, this has two immediate effects. First, blood flow throughout the body will be impaired, which can lead to patients becoming easily tired and fatigued as their muscles do not get enough oxygen when they are active. Because blood flow is impaired, the body will send signals to the heart that it needs to pump harder. Over time, the heart's attempts to pump harder will cause it to become larger and dilated, which can make a heart attack more likely. The poor circulation can also cause a chronic cough to develop as well as swelling of the ankles and feet.
- When a heart valve becomes leaky, blood begins to flow in reverse of its normal direction.
- Over time, the heart's attempts to pump harder will cause it to become larger and dilated, which can make a heart attack more likely.
Indirect Effects
According to the Mayo Clinic, there are a number of complications that can develop over time as a result of a leaky heart valve. As the heart attempts to pump harder, the extra strain can cause the left ventricle to enlarge. If the left ventricle gets too big, it actually gets weaker, causing the heart to no longer be good for pumping blood (heart failure). Leaky heart valves can also cause the heart to develop an irregular heartbeat, which can cause chaotic and uncontrolled beating of the heart. Regurgitated heart valves are also more likely to become infected with bacteria, leading to endocarditis. It can also lead to pulmonary hypertension, which occurs when the arteries that lead to the lungs develop high blood pressure, which can cause them to become blocked off.
- According to the Mayo Clinic, there are a number of complications that can develop over time as a result of a leaky heart valve.
- Leaky heart valves can also cause the heart to develop an irregular heartbeat, which can cause chaotic and uncontrolled beating of the heart.
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References
- American Heart Association: Heart Valves
- Texas Heart Instititue: Heart Valve Disease
- American Heart Association. All about heart rate (pulse). Updated July 31, 2015.
- American Heart Association. About arrythmia. Updated September 30, 2016.
- American Heart Association. Why arrhythmia matters. Updated September 30, 2016.
- Henz BD, Leite LR. Atrial fibrillation and cryptogenic thromboembolic events. Arq Bras Cardiol. 2018;111(2):132–133. doi:10.5935/abc.20180141
- Cleveland Clinic. Arrhythmia treatments. Updated on April 23, 2019.
- Kim W, Kim EJ. Heart failure as a risk factor for stroke. J Stroke. 2018;20(1):33–45. doi:10.5853/jos.2017.02810
- American Heart Association. Warning signs of heart failure. Updated May 31, 2017.
- Havakuk O, King KS, Grazette L, et al. Heart failure-induced brain injury. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2017;69(12):1609-1616. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2017.01.022
- American Heart Association. Understand your risk for excessive blood clotting.
- American Heart Association. Problem: Mitral valve prolapse. Updated May 31, 2016.
- American Heart Association. About heart attacks. Updated July 31, 2016.
- Sundbøll J, Horváth-puhó E, Schmidt M, et al. Long-term risk of stroke in myocardial infarction survivors: thirty-year population-based cohort study. Stroke. 2016;47(7):1727-1733. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.116.013321
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Conditions that increase risk for a stroke. Updated January 31, 2020.
- Collado FMS, Poulin MF, Murphy JJ, Jneid H, Kavinsky CJ. Patent foramen ovale closure for stroke prevention and other disorders. J Am Heart Assoc. 2018;7(12). doi:10.1161/JAHA.117.007146
- Whitehead L. The family experience of fatigue in heart failure. J Fam Nurs. 2017;23(1):138-156. doi:10.1177/1074840716684232
- Hauber AB, Obi EN, Price MA, Whalley D, Chang CL. Quantifying the relative importance to patients of avoiding symptoms and outcomes of heart failure. Curr Med Res Opin. 2017;33(11):2027-2038. doi:10.1080/03007995.2017.1355782
Writer Bio
Adam Cloe has been published in various scientific journals, including the "Journal of Biochemistry." He is currently a pathology resident at the University of Chicago. Cloe holds a Bachelor of Arts in biochemistry from Boston University, a M.D. from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. in pathology from the University of Chicago.