Maintaining a healthy heart is essential to prevent heart valve regurgitation. This article will highlight the warning signs, causes, preventive measures, and the heart disease screening package offered by Ramkhamhaeng Hospital. With the increasing risk factors in today's world, taking care of your heart health and reducing disease risk is vital for overall well-being and longevity. In particular, heart valve care, which might seem distant, is very important. Heart valves control the direction of blood flow, and if they malfunction or leak, they can disrupt blood circulation, causing the heart to work harder, which poses risks and may lead to life-threatening conditions.
Early warning signs of heart valve disease, including valve stenosis and regurgitation, can be observed as follows:
Patients with valve regurgitation often feel more tired than usual and may experience shortness of breath, especially during exercise or strenuous activities. In some cases, symptoms can occur even when resting.
An irregular heartbeat or abnormal heart sounds, such as a whooshing sound, may be heard in cases of valve regurgitation.
If the regurgitation occurs in the left side of the heart, it may cause the left heart chamber to enlarge, leading to pulmonary congestion. This can make it difficult for the patient to lie flat or require them to sit up to breathe, especially at night.
Valve regurgitation often causes discomfort and shortness of breath. Additionally, patients may experience chest pain or pressure, palpitations, or difficulty breathing.
Swelling caused by valve regurgitation results from fluid and salt retention in the body, leading to edema in the feet, ankles, or face. In some cases, patients may also experience abdominal bloating.
Heart valve disease, including both stenosis and regurgitation, can affect any of the four heart valves. The main causes include:
As people age, the heart valve tissues may degenerate and calcium deposits can form, leading to improper valve function and potentially resulting in regurgitation or stenosis.
This condition results from Streptococcus group A bacterial infections that cause rheumatic fever, particularly in childhood. Infection bacteria can cause long-term damage to the patient's heart valves, leading to abnormal valve function. This may result in stenosis, regurgitation, or both. It is one of the most common causes of heart valve disease.
These are defects present from birth due to improper heart development in the womb. The exact causes are not always known, and symptoms can appear at birth or later in life.
Infections can affect any part of the heart but are particularly harmful to the valves. If there is pre-existing valve damage, infections can exacerbate the problem, potentially leading to regurgitation or rupture. Infections may be linked to oral issues or tooth decay.
Sudden heart attacks can impact the heart valves, potentially causing acute valve regurgitation.
These conditions involve excessive flexibility and can affect various organs, including the heart valves, leading to regurgitation.
You can start protecting your heart and preventing valve regurgitation by adopting these simple lifestyle changes:
