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Aortic Regurgitation


About this topic


The heart pumps blood to the body. The blood leaves the heart through a big blood vessel called the aorta. There is a small valve at the opening between the heart and the aorta. It is called the aortic valve. This keeps the blood from flowing back into the heart. Sometimes, the valve becomes weak or does not close all the way. Then, some of the blood flows back into the heart. This problem may happen over time. The part of the heart that pumps blood to the body becomes bigger and does not pump as well as it should. Other times, the valve is harmed all of a sudden from an infection or injury. ‚  

What are the causes?


  • Heart valve problems are there at birth
  • Endocarditis or an infection of the lining of the heart
  • High blood pressure
  • Problems with the aorta like a tear in the wall of the aorta, trauma, or injury to the valve
  • Serious illness or conditions like Marfan syndrome, Reiter syndrome, ankylosing spondylosis, or lupus

What can make this more likely to happen?


  • Being male
  • Age 30 to 60 years
  • Having high blood pressure
  • Having a family history of aortic insufficiency

What are the main signs?


There may not be any signs until many years after this problem starts. Many of these signs are also signs of other conditions. ‚  
  • Pulse may feel different. It may be a strong and forceful pulse. Your pulse may not be regular. You may feel like your heart is racing.
  • Chest pain may be under your chest bone and spread to your left chest and other parts. It may get worse with exercise and better when resting. You may feel like your pain is crushing and squeezing. It may also feel like tightness and pressure.
  • Feeling faint, tired, or weak
  • Shortness of breath that is worse when lying down or being active. This may be due to fluid in your lungs.
  • Swelling of the feet, legs, or belly
  • Bottom blood pressure number is low

How does the doctor diagnose this health problem?


Your doctor will do an exam. The doctor will listen to your heart with a stethoscope and check for a heart murmur. Your doctor may also feel your chest and arm and leg pulses to see if you have a strong and forceful pulse. Your doctor will check for swelling in the legs and belly. Your doctor will also check your blood pressure to see if the bottom number is low. All of these things may be signs of aortic regurgitation. The doctor may order tests like: ‚  
  • Chest x-ray
  • Aortic angiography
  • Echocardiogram ¢ ˆ ’ heart ultrasound
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG) ¢ ˆ ’ test using electrical currents
  • Heart catheterization
  • Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)
  • Blood tests to rule out other problems

How does the doctor treat this health problem?


  • If you have mild problems, the doctor may just order checkups and testing every so often. Other cases need more treatment.
  • You may need to avoid hard activity.
  • Sometimes, surgery is needed to fix or replace the aortic valve.
  • Surgery may be needed to fix the aorta if there is a problem with the blood vessel.

What drugs may be needed?


The doctor may order drugs to: ‚  
  • Lower blood pressure
  • Prevent infection before dental work or other healthcare treatments

What changes to diet are needed?


  • Eat a healthy diet rich in veggies, fruits, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products.
  • Avoid foods that are high in saturated fat.
  • Limit salt intake to lower blood pressure.

What problems could happen?


  • Heart failure
  • Fluid in the lungs
  • Infection of the lining of the heart
  • Death

What can be done to prevent this health problem?


  • Always get care for strep infections. This can lessen the risk of getting rheumatic fever and aortic insufficiency.
  • If you have high blood pressure, be sure to follow your doctors instructions on how to lower it.
  • Stay active and keep a healthy weight. Being heavy can put you at risk for high blood pressure.

Where can I learn more?


American Heart Association ‚  
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/CongenitalHeartDefects/AboutCongenitalHeartDefects/Aortic-Valve-Stenosis-AVS_UCM_307020_Article.jsp ‚  
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute ‚  
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hvd/ ‚  

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer


This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚  

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