what happens if a heart valve doesn't work properly?
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If the valve does not close properly, it will allow blood to leak backwards. This is called valve incompetence or regurgitation or a leaky valve. This can put extra strain on your heart and may mean that your heart has to do extra work to pump the required volume of blood.
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Any of your four heart valves can become leaky. This means that just after the heart squeezes and pumps blood forward, some blood will leak backward through the valve. Leaking through the valve is also called valve regurgitation.
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Regurgitation happens when a valve doesn't close properly and blood leaks backward instead of moving in the proper one-way flow. If too much blood flows backward, only a small amount can travel forward to your body's organs.
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Any of your four heart valves can become leaky. This means that just after the heart squeezes and pumps blood forward, some blood will leak backward through the valve. Leaking through the valve is also called valve regurgitation. Guenther, T.
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With mitral valve regurgitation, the heart's mitral valve is leaky. Some blood flows back into the left atrium from the left ventricle. You may not have symptoms for many years. Chronic mitral valve regurgitation may get worse and need surgery. Acute, severe mitral valve regurgitation is a medical emergency.
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A heart attack can damage the area of the heart muscle that supports the mitral valve, affecting the function of the valve. If the damage is extensive enough, a heart attack can cause sudden and severe mitral valve regurgitation. Abnormality of the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy).
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If it continues for a long time, the heart and arteries may not function properly. This can damage the blood vessels of the brain, heart, and kidneys, resulting in a stroke, heart failure, or kidney failure.
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Depending on the type of damage that has occurred, treatment measures may include medications and heart-healthy lifestyle changes to help reduce the pressure in the heart. If LVH is caused by a heart valve problem, surgery may be needed to repair or replace the valve.
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They don't have any symptoms or major mitral valve backflow. When MVP does cause signs and symptoms, they may include: Palpitations (feelings that your heart is skipping a beat, fluttering, or beating too hard or too fast) Shortness of breath.
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Heart valve disease occurs if one or more of your heart valves don't work well. The heart has four valves: the tricuspid, pulmonary, mitral, and aortic valves. These valves have tissue flaps that open and close with each heartbeat.
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In some cases, blood may leak backward through the valve (mitral valve regurgitation). This may not cause problems if only a small amount of blood leaks back into the left atrium. More severe mitral valve regurgitation can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue or lightheadedness.
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For mild leakage, treatment is usually not necessary. You may need heart surgery to repair or replace the valve for severe leakage or regurgitation. Left untreated, severe mitral valve regurgitation can cause heart failure or heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias).
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One of the most common complications of heart disease, heart failure occurs when your heart can't pump enough blood to meet your body's needs. Heart failure can result from many forms of heart disease, including heart defects, cardiovascular disease, valvular heart disease, heart infections or cardiomyopathy.
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A prolapsing mitral valve cannot cure naturally, and a leaking bicuspid heart valve cannot heal itself if you have the affliction. In mitral valve prolapse, irregular mitral valve leaflets prolapse and do not shut properly.
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Possible risks of heart valve repair or replacement surgery include: Bleeding during or after the surgery. Blood clots that can cause heart attack, stroke, or lung problems.
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Mitral regurgitation may begin suddenly. This often occurs after a heart attack. When the regurgitation does not go away, it becomes long-term (chronic). Many other diseases or problems can weaken or damage the valve or the heart tissue around the valve.
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If the heart rate is too slow, too fast, or irregular, the heart may not be able to pump enough blood to the body. Lack of blood flow can damage the brain, heart, and other organs. One troublesome arrhythmia that MVP can cause is atrial fibrillation (AF).