A leaky heart valve refers to a heart valve that does not close properly. This can make it more difficult for a person’s heart to pump blood. Typically, treatment may involve surgery. However, it may be possible to resolve the issue without surgery in some cases.

1. A leaky heart valve, or valve regurgitation, occurs when blood flows in the wrong direction through the heart,
2. When a person has severe valve regurgitation, a surgeon may need to repair or replace the valves via open heart surgery,
3. However, researchers have developed less invasive procedures and continue to investigate new methods to treat leaky heart valves.

The heart’s four valves open and close to move blood around the body. If a valve becomes damaged or stretched, it can also become leaky. This can cause blood to flow backward. The heart must then work harder to pump blood, which can place extra strain on this vital organ.

high blood pressure in the lungs congenital anomaliesenlarged chambers in the heartinfectionsdegenerationincorrectly functioning leaflets — the openings between valves that allow blood to pass between heart valves

This article discusses approved treatments for leaky heart valves and those currently undergoing clinical trials. There are different types of leaky heart valves. Currently, medical professionals in the United States can manage one type of leaky heart valve — mitral regurgitation — without open heart surgery.

1. In addition, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only approved one noninvasive procedure to treat leaky heart valves.
2. This procedure is called the MitraClip,
3. Several clinical trials are examining other options.
4. However, while an off-label option, a doctor can treat aortic regurgitation with a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR),

It is also possible to treat a tricuspid regurgitation with a tricuspid clip, However, it does not currently have approval in the U.S. Depending on which valve is causing the issue — the mitral, aortic, pulmonary, or tricuspid valve — several factors may be behind a leaky heart valve.

1. Not all of these are fixable without invasive surgery.
2. Learn more about the types of leaky heart valves.
3. The most common type of leaky valve is mitral regurgitation, and a mitral clip — the MitraClip — is the only FDA-approved noninvasive valve repair treatment that treats this type of leaky valve.
4. This is a transcatheter edge-to-edge repair device that clips together faulty leaflets, reducing valve leakage.

A cardiologist puts these in place using a catheter — a tube through which they insert the mitral clip. The cardiologist threads the catheter to the heart through blood vessels, typically a large blood vessel from the groin. An individual with a leaky mitral valve would be eligible for a mitral clip procedure on meeting the following criteria:

They have severe mitral regurgitation.They have heart failure that is causing severe symptoms.They are not suitable candidates for invasive surgery.Their presentation of a leaky heart valve is fixable.The referring doctor anticipates a good life expectancy after the procedure.

For some people, heart surgery presents too high a risk. This edge-to-edge device can provide an alternative option for correcting their leaky heart valve. The risks of this procedure include:

hemorrhage arrhythmias blood clots aneurysms

However, a 5-year randomized controlled trial suggests superior safety outcomes compared with surgery. The trial indicates that edge-to-edge repair reduced the need for follow-up surgery by around the same extent as more intensive surgical treatments, even though more people experienced mitral regurgitation in the year following mitral clip treatment than with surgery.

A clinical trial has been underway since 2014 to measure the safety and effectiveness of the AccuCinch System. This option is for treating secondary mitral regurgitation. This refers to regurgitation that occurs due to issues with the left ventricle or left atrium, and is not a primary issue with the valve itself.

A cardiologist implants this device through a catheter, but instead of the leaflet, the implant attaches to the wall of the ventricle. This aims to reduce strain on the wall of the ventricle, make the ventricle smaller, and make the heart wall stronger without intensive surgery.

While not yet fully approved, the FDA assigned Breakthrough Device status to the AccuCinch System in 2022. Breakthrough Device designation means that the development, assessment, and review of this device may move quicker, and that another noninvasive option could soon become available for people with leaky heart valves.

Also known as transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), this is a minimally invasive procedure that involves inserting a new valve. A surgeon has two options to implant the valve. A transfemoral approach uses a large artery in the groin, while a transapical approach involves a small incision in the chest.

A 2021 systematic review indicates that TAVR can be a safe and effective option for treating aortic regurgitation. However, a 2021 study highlights that further studies are still necessary to evaluate this option. Transcatheter tricuspid valve intervention (TTVI) may be an alternative to medical therapy and surgery.

Similar to treating mitral regurgitation with a mitral clip, an edge-to-edge device may also be an option for treating tricuspid regurgitation. A 2022 literature review suggests that TTVI can be a feasible, safe, and effective treatment option for reducing tricuspid regurgitation.

relieve symptomsmanage other heart issues that may be worsening the leaky heart valvestop the leaky heart valve from becoming more severe

These medications might include:

diuretics and vasodilators to reduce high blood pressure and strain on the heartdrugs that help manage a person’s heart rate blood thinners to reduce a person’s risk of blood clots antibiotics to manage infections that inflame the heart

Clinical trials into noninvasive methods of treating leaky heart valves are ongoing. At present, only one method — a mitral clip — has FDA approval. Researchers are investigating other methods, some of which are on a fast track to development and safety review but are not yet available.

Can you heal a leaky heart valve naturally?

Can a heart valve repair itself? – Heart valves cannot repair themselves, but many people with heart valve problems do not need treatment. A doctor may recommend surgery if it is likely to significantly improve a person’s symptoms and quality of life.

How long can you live with a leaky heart valve without surgery?

A leaking heart valve can lead to life threatening complications. However, the condition is often treatable with valve repair or replacement procedures, which can increase your life expectancy. For your heart to function properly, its four valves need to be able to open correctly and close tightly to ensure that blood flows in the right direction through your heart’s chambers.

A leaky heart valve, also known as valve regurgitation, means the blood can flow backward instead of moving forward. This raises the risk of blood clot formation and other complications such as arrhythmia and heart failure, In mild cases, a leaking heart valve may have no symptoms and require no treatment other than regular checkups.

But in more severe cases, valve repair or replacement may be necessary. When valve regurgitation symptoms are present, they can include:

chest pain or discomfortheart palpitationslightheadednessshortness of breath

The key to avoiding life threatening complications is to see a doctor or healthcare professional if you have any symptoms of valve regurgitation. They can diagnose the cause of your symptoms and develop the right treatment program for you. If valve regurgitation is more severe, you may need valve repair or replacement.

• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 2.5% of the U.S.
• Population has some kind of valve disease, while about 13% of adults ages 75 and older have a valve disorder.
• The outlook for someone with a leaking heart valve depends on which valve is affected and the severity of the regurgitation.

The heart’s four valves include the:

aortic valve mitral valve pulmonary valve tricuspid valve

Any valve can develop regurgitation or the opposite problem, stenosis — a condition in which the valve becomes stiff and can no longer open wide enough to allow sufficient blood to flow through it. Advancing age is just one factor that can affect life expectancy with heart valve regurgitation. Another important factor is the presence of other heart conditions, such as:

arrhythmia coronary artery disease cardiomyopathy congenital heart defects previous heart attack or stroke

The longer serious heart valve regurgitation goes untreated, the higher the risk of cardiac complications. The severity of valve regurgitation may also affect life expectancy, even if the valve is repaired or replaced. If you need valve repair or replacement, another important consideration is the experience of the heart surgeon.

For example, a 2017 study suggests that having mitral valve surgery performed by a heart surgeon who completes at least 25 mitral valve procedures annually significantly raises your odds of surgical success and living for more than a year after surgery. The mitral valve allows blood to flow from the left atrium down to the left ventricle, the heart’s main pumping chamber.

A leaking mitral valve means the blood can flow back into the left atrium. Without effective treatment, mitral valve disease can force the heart to work harder to pump blood out to the body, raising the risk of an irregular, rapid heartbeat, as well as heart failure.

A 2020 report suggests that the 1-year mortality rate for older adults who have severe mitral valve regurgitation but don’t undergo valve repair or replacement is about 14%, The percentage of individuals who don’t survive more than a year after their diagnosis increases substantially with age. However, a 2020 study suggests that valve repair for severe mitral valve regurgitation may restore a person’s life expectancy to that of someone in the general public between the ages of 40 and 89,

The aortic valve allows blood to pass from the left ventricle into the aorta and the rest of the body. If blood seeps back into the left ventricle — the definition of aortic valve regurgitation — the heart must pump harder to push enough blood out to meet the body’s needs.

heart failure arrhythmiadeath

Research suggests that about 75% of people with severe aortic valve regurgitation, also known as aortic insufficiency, live at least 5 years after diagnosis with conservative treatment, but only 50% live 10 years. However, life expectancy estimates drop to about 2 years if severe aortic valve regurgitation isn’t treated and leads to congestive heart failure.

According to a 2021 study, the average life expectancy for individuals ages 60 to 64 who undergo surgical aortic valve replacement is 16.2 years, For people 85 or older, the average life expectancy after valve replacement is 6.1 years. The tricuspid valve separates the right atrium from the right ventricle, which pumps blood to the lungs to become oxygenated.

Tricuspid valve regurgitation means blood flows back up into the right atrium. The condition can cause significant pressure changes within the right ventricle. This can raise the risk of heart failure or the development of a common arrhythmia called atrial fibrillation,

1. According to a 2022 paper, the average 5-year mortality rate for severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is about 34%.
2. HFrEF refers to heart failure caused by less blood being expelled from the left ventricle of the heart with each beat.
3. Isolated primary TR can also lead to heart failure, with a 5-year mortality rate of 48%.

The pulmonary valve allows blood to pass from the right ventricle to the lungs, where it picks up oxygen before returning to the heart to be pumped out to the body. With pulmonary regurgitation, blood flows back to the right ventricle before becoming oxygenated.

congenital heart disease pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary regurgitation may lead to a heart murmur and, in rare cases, heart failure. According to a 2021 study of individuals who underwent pulmonary valve replacement, the survival rate 10 years after the procedure was about 90%, In some cases, a leaking heart valve can be repaired or replaced with a minimally invasive catheter procedure instead of open heart surgery.

• However, not everyone is a candidate for this type of procedure.
• With a minimally invasive catheter procedure, a catheter (thin, flexible tube) is threaded through a blood vessel in your groin and up to your heart.
• The catheter will be equipped with tools that allow for either a repair or replacement of the affected heart valve.

If a doctor has recommended valve repair or replacement, ask them whether a minimally invasive catheter procedure is right for you. In many cases, a leaky heart valve slowly gets worse over time. It’s important to keep track of your symptoms and to take note of any changes.

increased shortness of breath, even when you’re not exerting yourselfthe inability to take a deep breath when lying downincreased dizzy spells or feelings of lightheadednessmore frequent bouts of chest pain or discomfortunusual swelling in legs, ankles, or feetmore frequent episodes of a rapid, fluttering heartbeatunexplained fainting spells

If you have severe valvular heart disease, schedule an evaluation with your cardiologist to see if you need valve treatment. The doctor should order imaging tests like an echocardiogram to assess how your condition is progressing and the treatment you may need.

1. A leaking heart valve may be mild enough that it causes no symptoms and requires no treatment to restore healthy blood flow.
2. In mild cases, a leaking heart valve may not have any impact on your life expectancy.
3. But in serious cases, a leaky heart valve often requires treatment such as a valve replacement or repair.

Without a proper diagnosis and treatment, heart valve regurgitation can impact your life expectancy, especially if valve disease has led to other heart complications. If you have symptoms of valve regurgitation, it’s a good idea to visit a doctor. Getting treatment early, before other complications arise, can extend your life expectancy and improve the quality of your life.

Can a person live with a leaky heart valve?

A leaking heart valve, or heart valve regurgitation, causes blood to flow backward in the heart. A person’s life expectancy depends on which valve leaks, the leak’s severity, and treatment. For example, mitral valve regurgitation life expectancy differs from aortic valve regurgitation.

aortic mitral pulmonary, or pulmonictricuspid

If any of these valves become leaky, it can cause some blood to flow backward, forcing the heart to work harder and slowing the flow of blood throughout the body. A leaking heart valve may cause symptoms in people with severe cases. Without treatment, the condition can reduce a person’s life expectancy.

increase the risk of heart arrhythmias lead to harmful blood clotscause sudden cardiac deathcause heart failure

However, not all types of leaking heart valves are life threatening or require surgery. For example, many people with tricuspid valve regurgitation do not have symptoms. Learn more about leaky heart valve conditions. Many factors affect the life expectancy of someone with a leaky heart valve. Factors to consider include:

which valve leaks and how severe the leak is whether a person needs surgery and is able to undergo surgery how early a doctor diagnoses and treats the leaky valve, and whether the leak has damaged the heart a person’s overall health, and whether they have other medical conditions that might complicate a leaky heart valve a person’s age

Generally, leaking heart valves that are left untreated can impact life expectancy.

Is walking good for leaky heart valve?

If you’ve received a diagnosis of heart valve disease and you’re interested in remaining physically active, there are a number of safe exercises to benefit both your mind and your body. Exercise is important for overall heart health. In fact, staying physically active can actually improve recovery should you need surgery for heart valve disease.

1. It also lowers the risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, and more while helping you sleep better.
2. The types and intensity of activities that people with heart valve disease can do safely depend on a number of factors, including the type of heart valve disease and its severity.

If you have heart valve disease, It’s important to speak with your doctor about what types of exercise are right for you and whether there’s anything you should be aware of before beginning an exercise program. Your doctor may also prescribe an exercise program for you.

1. It’s also essential to listen to your body.
2. Signs that you may need to take a rest or modify your exercise routine can include shortness of breath, lightheadedness, chest pain, and unusual swelling in your feet or ankles.
3. Rest is just as important as exercise for managing your condition.
4. Consider trying these six safe exercises if you’ve received a diagnosis of heart valve disease.

Aerobic exercise, such as yoga, has numerous health benefits, particularly for your heart. By combining light physical exercise with deep breathing, yoga can help decrease heart rate, reduce stress, and bring down blood pressure. This makes yoga a safe and healthy choice for most people living with heart valve disease.

Older adults and those who are new to yoga should consider beginning with gentle, restorative, or chair-based exercises. Then, if desired, you can work your way up to more challenging poses. People with heart valve disease may need to modify some poses and avoid any poses that place the head below the heart, such as headstands and other inversions.

Placing your head below your heart can make your blood pressure spike to dangerous levels. Walking is another aerobic activity that’s good for your heart. It’s also a great place to start if you’re easing into an exercise routine and want to improve your cardiovascular health.

• Brisk walking increases your heart rate but shouldn’t make you breathless.
• The American Heart Association (AHA) suggests increasing your activity until you’re breathing faster and harder but can still carry on a conversation.
• Anything beyond that and you may be overdoing it.
• However, walking doesn’t always have to be brisk.

Even taking smaller walks throughout the day — such as walking to the mailbox, walking your dog, or taking the stairs instead of an elevator — can help keep your heart healthy. Swimming is a great exercise option for people with heart valve disease. Swimming can improve stamina and heart health.

1. As with other aerobic activities, it’s recommended to do swimming (or a combination of swimming and other aerobic exercises) 3 to 5 times a week.
2. The workout should be light to somewhat hard.
3. An easy way to build up stamina is to begin by swimming for just a few minutes and gradually increase that amount until you’re able to swim at a pace that works for you for 30 to 60 minutes.

People with certain degrees of heart valve disease should avoid high intensity aerobic exercise, so in those cases it’s important to steer clear of high intensity swimming workouts or swim interval training. Any rhythmic, continuous activity, like cycling, can be beneficial for heart valve disease.

• Research suggests that cycling can lower cardiovascular risk factors, improve cholesterol levels, and lower high blood pressure.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends checking your heart rate during or immediately after activity.
• A target heart rate should be 70 to 80 percent of your predicted maximal heart rate (220 minus your age).

Strength training with light or medium effort can be good for your heart. However, according to the AHA, people with heart valve disease should avoid heavy lifting and other exercises that can cause straining or grunting, such as situps. These sorts of activities can rapidly raise your blood pressure, putting strain on your heart.

1. Hand weights, resistance bands, weight machines, and exercises using your body weight (such as sit-to-stands) can all count toward strength training.
2. In addition to helping your muscles work more efficiently, strength training can increase your strength for daily activities.
3. The CDC recommends doing strength training 2 or 3 days per week with rest days in between.

In addition to aerobic activity and strength training, research has shown that simple stretching can be helpful for improving heart health and lowering blood pressure. Stretching can improve flexibility and movement. It can also reduce stress, which, according to the AHA, is an important way to lower your risk of heart disease.

1. Stretching each key muscle group (such as your legs, arms, back, and core) for about 30 seconds is recommended.
2. You can stretch 2 to 7 days per week — it’s a safe exercise to do daily.
3. As with yoga, it’s important to be mindful of any stretches or poses that place your head below your heart.
4. Exercise is an essential tool in managing heart valve disease.

If you’ve received a diagnosis of heart valve disease, you can start or continue many popular physical activities, like walking and swimming. However, before beginning an exercise program, consult your doctor to find out whether it’s right for you and how you can exercise safely to meet your needs.

Should I worry about a leaky heart valve?

How Are Leaky Heart Valves Treated? – Sometimes a leaky valve is minor and doesn’t need to be treated right away. In this case, the heart valve may be monitored to watch for changes. In many cases, however, a repair or replacement is required. Left untreated, leaky heart valves can cause serious complications, including heart failure, atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) or pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lung’s vessels).

1. The good news is that valve problems are often quite treatable.
2. Depending on which valve is causing the problem and the severity of your symptoms, your cardiologist or surgeon might recommend a surgical procedure or a transcatheter, minimally invasive procedure to repair or replace the leaky valve.
3. Penn Medicine surgeons perform aortic valve repair and replacement surgery, tricuspid valve repair and replacement surgery, mitral valve repair and replacement surgery, and pulmonary valve repair and replacement surgery,

When possible, heart valves are repaired rather than replaced. Repairs have several benefits over replacements:

Preserved function and strength of the heart muscle Lower the risk of a post-surgery infection No need to take blood-thinning medication

What foods should I avoid with leaky heart valves?

Healthy diet –

Healthy eating can provide long-term health benefits and reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases, including heart disease.

• Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains regularly.
• Change the source of protein to be plant-based, e.g., nuts and legumes, or fish and seafood, instead of animal meats.
• Reduce salt, sugar, and alcohol intake.
• Avoid processed foods, specifically processed meat, e.g., sausage, ham, and bacon.
• Avoid saturated fat, including animal fat, coconut, and palm oils.
• Balance energy intake and expenditure. Avoid overeating.
• Stick to a healthy diet plan when eating out.

1. What not to do with a leaky heart valve?

   A leaky valve can contribute to heart failure and cardiac arrest. So you should take good care of yourself to improve your overall heart health. The following lifestyle changes can help ease the symptoms and prevent more serious heart problems: Avoid alcohol, smoking and illegal drugs.

   How do I know if my leaky heart valve is getting worse?

   Symptoms – Most often, aortic valve regurgitation develops gradually. You may have no signs or symptoms for years. You may be unaware that you have the condition. However, sometimes aortic valve regurgitation occurs suddenly, usually as a result of an infection of the valve. As aortic valve regurgitation worsens, signs and symptoms may include:

   Shortness of breath with exercise or when you lie down Fatigue and weakness, especially when you increase your activity level Heart murmur Irregular pulse (arrhythmia) Lightheadedness or fainting Chest pain (angina), discomfort or tightness, often increasing during exercise Sensations of a rapid, fluttering heartbeat (palpitations) Swollen ankles and feet

   Is a slightly leaking heart valve serious?

   Ask the doctor – Q. A recent echocardiogram showed that I have mild leakage from my mitral and tricuspid valves. I feel fine, but should I limit my activity in any way based on this finding? Will I need any follow-up testing going forward? I just turned 74.A. Rest assured that a little bit of leakage from both of those heart valves is normal.

   1. It’s a common finding on echocardiograms because the equipment is so sensitive it can detect very small amounts of “leakiness,” or what doctors call regurgitation.
   2. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content.
   3. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.

   No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

   Can anxiety cause leaky heart valve?

   What are the complications of mitral valve prolapse? –

   Palpitations are sensations of fast or irregular heartbeats. In most patients with mitral valve prolapse, palpitations are harmless. In very rare cases, potentially serious heart rhythm abnormalities (for example, atrial fibrillation ) may underlie palpitations and require further evaluation and treatment. Moreover, pulmonary hypertension may develop and lead to heart failure. Sharp chest pains are reported in some patients with mitral valve prolapse, which can be prolonged. Unlike angina, chest pain with mitral valve prolapse rarely occurs during or after exercise, and may not respond to nitroglycerin. Anxiety, panic attacks, and depression may be associated with mitral valve prolapse. Like fatigue, these symptoms are believed to be related to imbalances of the autonomic nervous system. Migraine headaches have been occasionally linked to mitral valve prolapse. They are probably related to abnormal nervous system control of the tension in the blood vessels in the brain.Mitral valve prolapse may be rarely associated with strokes occurring in young people. These patients appear to have increased blood clotting tendencies due to abnormally sticky blood clotting elements, called platelets.

   Often the severity of symptoms in patients with mitral prolapse is inversely correlated to the degree of anatomic abnormality. Many patients with severe symptoms have barely detectable prolapse, and the small minority with severe prolapse and valve dysfunction have no symptoms.

   Can you live 20 years after heart valve replacement?

   View commentaries on this research This is a plain English summary of an original research article, The views expressed are those of the author(s) and reviewer(s) at the time of publication. People undergoing surgery to replace a narrowed aortic heart valve (aortic stenosis) have only slightly lower life expectancy than people without the condition.

   1. Surgery was also associated with a low rate of stroke.
   2. This review gathered data from 93 observational studies that followed long term outcomes for people with severe aortic stenosis who had the valve replaced with a biological or tissue (bioprosthetic) valve.
   3. Following surgery, survival ranged from 16 years on average for people aged 65 or less, to six or seven years for those over 75.

   Fewer than one in 100 developed a stroke each year. Ten years after surgery most people (94%) still had a good functioning valve. By 20 years the rate of valve deterioration had risen to 48%. Bioprosthetic valves appear safe and are linked to average lifespan for this population, but there may be a need for monitoring and possible replacement after the first ten years.

   Is it safe to fly with a leaky heart valve?

   If you have severe symptoms of heart valve disease, you may not be allowed to fly. Your doctor will have to assess your condition and give you the OK. If you’re very breathless or usually have oxygen, you will need to talk to your airline well in advance of travel.

   What is the best exercise for leaky heart valve?

   Aerobic activity increases your heart rate and breathing. Build up to doing at least 150 minutes/week of moderate-intensity activity (such as a brisk walk, light cycling, water exercise or dancing). You’ll improve your stamina and heart health.

   Can stress cause heart valve problems?

   How does stress lead to heart attacks? – Psychosocial stress can be short-term or long-term, and both types have been associated with heart disease. Exactly how stress leads to a heart attack is still being studied. Emotional stress can lead to an increase in blood pressure, or hypertension, which subsequently leads to heart disease and plaque buildup in the coronary arteries.

   1. Emotional stress also can lead to increased level of stress hormones, or cortisol.
   2. These hormones affect platelets and autonomic tone, which is how your body controls involuntary functions such as heart rate and blood pressure.
   3. All these factors play a role in heart disease.
   4. Stress also can lead to unhealthy mechanisms to cope with stress, such as stress eating or substance abuse, and not exercising, which in turn can lead to heart disease.

   Also, short-term severe stressful situations often can cause severe but usually temporary heart failure. This condition is called broken heart syndrome, also known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy, apical ballooning syndrome or stress cardiomyopathy.

   What causes heart valves to start leaking?

   What causes leaky valves? – Any one of the four valves in the heart can leak or a combination of valves can leak. One of the valves typically has three flaps, and some people are born with only two flaps, which results in a leaking valve. Trauma can cause valves to leak, as can infection of the heart valve or damage from rheumatic fever.

   What is the best fruit for heart valve?

   2. Heart valve disease should eat what? – Potassium-rich foods Potassium is a mineral that plays an important role in controlling blood pressure and preventing stroke. In addition, some cases are taking loop diuretics to reduce blood potassium. Therefore, potassium supplementation for patients with valvular regurgitation is extremely necessary.

   Foods high in potassium include: bananas, pears, plums, oranges, grapes, dark green vegetables such as cruciferous vegetables, cauliflower, Fresh fruits Fruits contain many vitamins, minerals, soluble fiber and antioxidants help lower blood cholesterol, anti-oxidants, improve the body’s immune system and prevent the progression of heart valve regurgitation.

   Some fruits are good for patients with open heart valves such as: Berries: strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, black currants, contain many antioxidants to help fight the attack of damaging factors. valvular injury such as lowering blood pressure, lowering cholesterol, reducing weight and preventing blood clot formation in patients with valvular regurgitation. Thực phẩm giàu Kali tốt cho bệnh nhân mắc bệnh hở van tim Green vegetables Green vegetables help add vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to protect heart valves, green vegetables help lower blood pressure, reducing the burden on the heart. In addition, green vegetables contain a lot of magnesium.

   1. Magnesium helps prevent calcification of the heart valve, reduces the risk of stenosis, stabilizes heart rate, prevents chest pain.
   2. Green vegetables should be eaten such as spinach, broccoli,.
   3. Fat is not fat.
   4. Saturated, healthy protein Vegetable oils are unsaturated fats that should be used instead of animal fats to help lower cholesterol, prevent atherosclerosis, and protect the cardiovascular system.

   Vegetable oils that can be used include: olive oil, canola oil. In addition, nuts such as walnuts, almonds,, are also rich in unsaturated fats,. Fatty fish including salmon, mackerel, sardines and tuna are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. It has many beneficial effects on the heart.

   Omega-3s lower blood triglycerides, improve artery function, and lower blood pressure. Omega-3 is most abundant in salmon to help prevent the formation of blood clots, reducing the risk of heart attack in patients with open heart valves. Whole grains Whole grains contain a lot of fiber, B vitamins, starch, and antioxidants that help reduce cholesterol absorption, make blood vessels open, and at the same time less cause blood sugar spikes after meals.

   Foods that can be selected include: whole rice (brown rice), legumes (green beans, black beans,,), oats. Some other foods good for heart valve regurgitation: Green tea. Green tea contains many polyphenols and catechins that help prevent oxidation, prevent damage to heart muscle cells, and reduce inflammation. Trà xanh chứa nhiều polyphenol và catechin giúp ngăn ngừa tổn thương tế bào tim Use spices like garlic, pepper, turmeric, cinnamon. Spices have the effect of reducing blood fat, increasing blood circulation, reducing pressure on heart valves. Low-fat milk.

   • Milk is also rich in vitamins such as A, C, and D, which are good for the heart.
   • Note to choose low-fat milk (containing 1% fat) such as yogurt, organic milk, soy milk, rice milk, etc.
   • In addition to nutrition, monitor and perform a health check.
   • Regularly with your doctor.
   • This is the most optimal treatment to prevent cardiovascular complications of valvular regurgitation.

   Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE, Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily. Khi nào cần siêu âm tim qua thực quản?

   Is caffeine bad for a leaky heart valve?

   Diet – Some dietary changes you can make to prevent or alleviate symptoms of an MVP are:

   Cut back on caffeine.Try to keep alcohol intake to a minimum or eliminate it all together.Be mindful of sugar.

   Caffeine can be problematic if you have a mitral valve prolapse. Caffeinated coffee and tea, along with energy drinks, can aggravate an MVP by causing heart palpitations, anxiety, and panic attacks. If you enjoy these types of beverages, opt for decaffeinated varieties to minimize MVP symptoms.

   1. Alcoholic beverages can stimulate heart arrhythmias due to interference with blood circulation.
   2. It is generally recommended to avoid alcohol if you have an MVP.
   3. If you like to have an adult beverage with a meal, try a non-alcoholic beer or a festive mocktail.
   4. Sugar can also be an issue if you have an MVP, although everyone should be mindful of their sugar intake.

   Chocolate contains small amounts of caffeine which can aggravate heart palpitations. Sugary desserts and drinks can lead to blood sugar spikes that can bring on an irregular heartbeat and anxiety. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, try swapping out high-sugar treats for those sweetened with monk fruit or stevia.

   You could also have some fresh fruit — frozen grapes can provide some of the same satisfaction as sorbet. To feel your best despite having a mitral valve prolapse, focus on eating a diet of fresh, whole foods. Don’t dwell on the foods and drinks you should avoid. Try to find substitutes for the foods you love that won’t leave you feeling anxious with a speedy heartbeat.

   There are plenty of heart-friendly alternatives you can use to replace the offending foods and beverages.

   What is the most common leaky heart valve?

   Overview – Mitral valve regurgitation is a type of heart valve disease in which the valve between the left heart chambers doesn’t close completely, allowing blood to leak backward across the valve. It is the most common type of heart valve disease (valvular heart disease).

   Mitral regurgitation (MR) Mitral insufficiency Mitral incompetence

   Treatment of mitral valve regurgitation may include regular monitoring, medications or surgery. Some people with mitral regurgitation don’t need treatment, especially when the regurgitation is mild. Severe mitral valve regurgitation often requires a catheter procedure or heart surgery to repair or replace the mitral valve.

   What can fix a leaky heart valve?

   Leaky Heart Valve Surgery & Replacement Medically Reviewed by on November 20, 2022 A lets flow in two directions when it should flow in only one. This happens when something is wrong with the valve’s flaps, or leaflets, which control the flow and direction of,

   This can make your work harder and keep it from pumping the right amount of blood. A leaky heart valve, also called regurgitation, can happen suddenly or it may develop slowly over many years. If it’s a minor issue, it can be treated with, or you may not need treatment at all. But in some cases, your doctor may recommend surgery to repair or replace it to prevent damage to your,

   Most doctors would rather repair the damaged valve than replace it because fixing it is easier on your heart. You’re likely to recover more quickly after valve repair surgery, and you won’t need to take a blood-thinner for the rest of your life as you would if your damaged heart valve was replaced.

   Annuloplasty: A special ring is put around the valve to make it close right.MitraClip: A small cut is made in your groin, and the clip is pushed up to your heart through a thin tube. It clips a small area of the flaps together to limit the leak.Patching:If there are holes or tears in the valve’s flap-like doors, a tissue patch is put in place to cover them.Repair of structural support: The cords and muscles that support the valve are replaced or shortened to make the edges of the flap meet. Once they’re the right length, the valve will seal as it should.Reshaping: Part of the flap is cut out, and then it’s sewn back together in the right shape.

   If your doctor recommends that the valve be replaced, your surgeon will remove the valve that’s not working well and put in a new one. Some valves are made from specially treated tissue from the heart of a pig, a cow, or a person. These may only last 10 to 15 years.

   Ross Procedure: A diseased aortic valve is replaced with your pulmonary valve, which is a similar shape. You’ll get a new pulmonary valve from a human donor. This can be a good choice for children because their “new” valve will grow as they do. But it’s a complicated surgery, and in some cases, the valves stop working within a few years.Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR): This new procedure, also known as transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), is easier on your body than open heart surgery. It’s done through small cuts, so your chest bones don’t have to be separated. A new flexible valve is carried to your heart through a thin tube.

   Your surgery could be scheduled weeks in advance, and it’s a good idea to go into your surgery as healthy as you can. Focus on eating well and getting and exercise. Try to keep your stress under control. Your doctor will need information about your health.

   They’ll want to know what medications or you take. You should also let them know if you smoke, have any allergies, could be pregnant, or have a, They also may want to do a blood test or other tests to make sure you’re healthy enough for surgery. Once your heart valve has been repaired or replaced, your doctor will want you to walk, eat, and drink again as soon as possible.

   But it’ll be a few weeks before you get your energy back. You may need to follow a special diet. If not, just make sure to eat plenty of “heart healthy” foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Exercise is important to get your heart strong again, but you’ll need to slowly build up your activity level and pace.

   Can anything be done for a leaky heart valve?

   A leaky heart valve might go unnoticed. Or it could cause health problems that could be either minor or serious. How serious a leaky heart valve is depends on how much it interferes with normal blood flow through the heart, Treatments include medicines, surgical repair, or surgical replacement of the leaky valve.

   tricuspid valvepulmonic valvemitral valveaortic valve

   The valves consist of flaps that open to let blood flow in one direction as it moves through the chambers of the heart. Then the valves close to keep blood from flowing backwards into the chamber it just left. Each valve typically has three flaps, except for the mitral valve, which has two.

   Listening to the heart with a stethoscope for abnormal sounds such as a heart murmur Looking at the results of a heart ultrasound, also called an echocardiogram

   A person’s description of symptoms along with the physical exam and echocardiogram can determine how serious a leaky heart valve is. Frequently, a leaky heart valve causes no symptoms. Many healthy people have one or more valves that are slightly leaky. If the heart valve leak is severe, it may impair the forward flow of blood. This can cause symptoms of congestive heart failure, which include:

   Shortness of breath, especially with exertion or when lying flatLeg swelling or fluid retention elsewhere in the body

   Other symptoms of a leaky heart valve may include:

   LightheadednessRapid heartbeatHeart fluttering or palpitations Fatigue

   Even when there is significant valve regurgitation, there may be no symptoms. Causes of a leaky aortic valve include:

   A bicuspid aortic valve, which means the valve has two flaps instead of the normal threeHigh blood pressure, or hypertension Infection of the heart valve, known as endocarditis Marfan syndrome Rheumatic heart disease

   Many people with aortic regurgitation only require observation over time. People with symptoms due to severe aortic valve regurgitation may benefit from certain blood pressure medicines called vasodilators. Other drug treatments for congestive heart failure, such as diuretics, can be helpful in severe aortic regurgitation.

   Mitral valve prolapse (an improper closing of the valve)An enlarged heart, called cardiomyopathy, due to hypertension, coronary artery disease, or another causeEndocarditisRheumatic heart disease

   Some people with a leaky mitral valve don’t require treatment. The standard approach is observation over time. Experts don’t recommend daily medication for mitral regurgitation unless there is significant heart failure. Surgery to repair or replace a mitral valve that is leaking severely can result in significant improvement for certain people.

   Because mitral regurgitation is slowly progressive, deciding when to operate – neither too early, nor too late – can be difficult. Many healthy adults have a slightly leaky tricuspid valve. This may be discovered incidentally, usually causes no problems, and does not require treatment or follow-up. Moderate or severe tricuspid regurgitation may result from pulmonary hypertension,

   Pulmonary hypertension is high blood pressure in the pulmonary artery, This high blood pressure has many possible causes. The main one is congestive heart failure. Medicines may not be effective in treating tricuspid regurgitation. Diuretics, or water pills, can help relieve body swelling, or edema, that’s due to congestive heart failure.

   The swelling is not always present, however. The tricuspid valve may be repaired during surgery to correct other leaky heart valves. Surgical repair of the tricuspid valve generally works better than replacing it. Surgery to replace the tricuspid valve by itself (not along with the mitral or aortic valve) is only recommended in rare cases.

   Like the tricuspid valve, a small amount of pulmonic regurgitation may be present in healthy people. There are rare cases when a leaky pulmonary valve causes problems. These may be due to:

   Elevated blood pressure in the pulmonary artery (pulmonary hypertension)Previous surgery as a child to repair a severe heart defect

   Usually, no treatment is required for pulmonary regurgitation. Treating the underlying medical condition is the best approach. Everyone with a leaky heart valve can benefit from daily exercise, like walking. Before engaging in competitive or contact sports, people with severe valve regurgitation should talk with their doctors.

   What not to do with a leaky heart valve?

   A leaky valve can contribute to heart failure and cardiac arrest. So you should take good care of yourself to improve your overall heart health. The following lifestyle changes can help ease the symptoms and prevent more serious heart problems: Avoid alcohol, smoking and illegal drugs.

   Can heart valve damage reversed?

   What is heart valve disease? – Heart valve disease refers to any of several conditions that prevent one or more of the valves in your heart from working right. Left untreated, heart valve disease can cause your heart to work harder. This can reduce your quality of life and even become life-threatening.

   Mitral (between your left atrium and left ventricle). Tricuspid (between your right atrium and right ventricle). Aortic (between your left ventricle and aorta). Pulmonary (between your right ventricle and pulmonary artery).

   Oxygen-poor blood comes back from your body to your heart’s right atrium, then goes through your tricuspid valve and into your right ventricle. From there, it goes through your pulmonary valve and pulmonary artery to get oxygen from your lungs. Blood with oxygen returns through your pulmonary veins to your heart’s left atrium.

   1. Your mitral valve lets the blood travel from the left atrium to your left ventricle.
   2. From there, oxygen-rich blood goes through your aortic valve and out through your aorta to the rest of your body.
   3. Your valves consist of small flaps of tissue (called leaflets) that open to allow blood to move forward through your heart during half of your heartbeat.

   These leaflets close to prevent blood from flowing backward during the other half of your heartbeat. Your mitral valve has two leaflets, but the others have three leaflets. The leaflets in two of your valves (the mitral and tricuspid) also have tough, fibrous strands of tissue called chordae tendineae that connect the valve leaflets to the papillary muscles inside the walls of your ventricles.