Aortic Regurgitation (Leaky Heart Valve): Causes, Symptoms, Risks, and Treatment (2024)

Aortic valve regurgitation is a type of heart valve disease that occurs when your heart’s aortic valve doesn’t close tightly, causing blood to leak backward with each heartbeat. A leaky aortic valve, also called aortic insufficiency, makes it more difficult for your heart to pump blood to the rest of the body.

Many people have no symptoms at first, but as the condition worsens, they may experience chest pain, palpitations, and shortness of breath. Over time, a leaky aortic valve can damage the heart, even leading to congestive heart failure, so timely treatment is crucial.

Continue reading to learn more about aortic valve regurgitation and heart valve leakage, including symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.

Aortic Regurgitation (Leaky Heart Valve): Causes, Symptoms, Risks, and Treatment (1)

What Happens in Aortic Regurgitation?

With aortic regurgitation, a small amount of blood leaks backwards from the aortic valve into the left ventricle. This happens because the aortic valve, which allows blood to flow from the left ventricle into the aorta, doesn’t close tightly.

To understand why this is significant, it’s helpful to learn about the anatomy of the heart. In a healthy heart, blood blows from the left ventricle, the largest and most powerful of the heart’s four chambers. The left ventricle pumps blood through the aortic valve into the aorta, the largest artery in the body. From there, blood flows throughout the body, delivering oxygen to your muscles and tissues.

Aortic RegurgitationAortic Regurgitation (Leaky Heart Valve): Causes, Symptoms, Risks, and Treatment (2)

With aortic regurgitation, some of the blood that is ejected into the aorta. With each heartbeat, the blood leaks back into the left ventricle in between heartbeats. This means the heart needs to work harder to pump enough blood to your body.

Over time, the wall of the left ventricle can get thicker, which makes it more difficult to pump. Eventually, your heart might not be able to pump enough blood to keep you healthy. This is a condition called congestive heart failure.

How Does a Leaky Aortic Valve Affect the Body?

The heart has four valves that regulate blood flow among the four chambers of the heart. When the valves are working well, the cardiac cycle happens as it should, allowing your heart to pump blood efficiently throughout the body.

But when the valves are leaky, the heart cannot pump efficiently. It must work harder to meet your body’s need for oxygen. Over time, this extra effort can damage the heart and lead to heart disease and heart failure.

Symptoms of Aortic Regurgitation

Most people with aortic regurgitation don’t have symptoms at first. People can be asymptomatic (have no symptoms) for many years. Then, symptoms can come on slowly or suddenly. The symptoms of aortic regurgitation include:

  • A pounding pulse
  • Palpitations
  • Chest pain
  • Fatigue
  • Shortness of breath, especially with activity

As the condition worsens, you may notice:

  • Shortness of breath while lying down
  • Waking up short of breath
  • Swelling in the ankles and feet
  • Weakness, especially with activity
  • Fainting or light-headedness

You may also experience complications including:

  • Abnormal heartbeat
  • Heart failure
  • Infection of the heart

Whom Does Aortic Regurgitation Affect?

This condition can impact anyone. About 5%–10% of Americans will have aortic regurgitation. An echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart) can even reveal the condition in otherwise healthy people. The condition is more common in men than women and is most often found in people over age 50.

Causes and Risk Factors for Aortic Regurgitation

Aortic regurgitation is caused by weakening of the aortic valve. This can happen due to normal aging, or because of the following:

  • High blood pressure (hypertension)
  • Rheumatic fever (more common in the past)
  • Untreated syphilis
  • Endocarditis, an infection of the heart valve
  • Injury or trauma to the chest
  • Reiter syndrome (reactive arthritis)
  • Marfan syndrome
  • Ankylosing spondylitis, a form of inflammatory arthritis
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SEL), the most common type of lupus
  • Congenital valve problems (present at birth)

How Is Aortic Regurgitation Diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will use an exam and image technology to diagnose aortic regurgitation. During the exam, they might look for signs of the condition, including:

  • A heart murmur
  • Forceful heartbeat
  • Bobbing the head in time with the heartbeat
  • Hard pulses in the legs and arms
  • Low diastolic blood pressure
  • Symptoms of fluid on the lungs

In addition, they might order imaging tests to get a better idea of how blood is flowing through your heart. These can include:

  • Aortic angiography, which uses dyes and X-rays to see how blood flows through the aorta
  • Echocardiogram, or ultrasound of the heart
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scan
  • Chest X-ray
  • Left heart catheterization

How Is Aortic Regurgitation Treated?

If you’re not having symptoms, your healthcare provider might recommend monitoring your condition with regular echocardiograms. However, medications are often needed. These can include:

  • Blood pressure medication if you have high blood pressure
  • Diuretics to ease the symptoms of heart failure
  • Blood thinners to reduce the risk of clotting or stroke

If your medications don’t improve your heart health, your healthcare provider may recommend surgery called an aortic valve replacement. This is an open-heart surgery to replace the damaged valve.

Interest is building for a minimally invasive version of this surgery that does not require opening the chest. This surgical repair procedure that implants a new valve by way of a catheter is expected to become more common with time, so talk with your healthcare provider about available options.

Lifestyle Changes for Aortic Regurgitation

Your healthcare provider might recommend avoiding certain activities that make your symptoms worse. For example, if you experience symptoms while exercising, your healthcare provider might recommend modifications.

If you have aortic regurgitation it can also be helpful to live a heart-healthy lifestyle, which includes:

  • Eating heart-healthy foods
  • Exercising
  • Avoiding tobacco, alcohol, and drugs
  • Seeing your healthcare provider regularly and taking all medication they prescribe

Can You Prevent Aortic Regurgitation?

Some people are born with aortic valve problems that cannot be prevented. However, many others can reduce their risk of aortic regurgitation by focusing on cardiovascular health. Exercise, eat healthy, and get regular medical care.

Reducing high blood pressure and maintaining healthy blood pressure is especially important for preventing aortic regurgitation. Ask your healthcare provider about medications and lifestyle adjustments that can help you manage your blood pressure.

Outlook for People With Aortic Regurgitation

With treatment and medical oversight, people with aortic regurgitation have a good prognosis, or outlook. It’s very important to see a cardiologist (heart doctor) and keep in touch with them, even if you’re not experiencing symptoms. Regular monitoring can help you detect changes to your heart health early and avoid complications like congestive heart failure.

Summary

Aortic regurgitation is a condition where the aortic valve doesn’t close tightly. This allows blood to flow backwards into the left ventricle of the heart, and makes it more difficult for the heart to provide oxygen to the whole body. Over time, if left untreated, aortic regurgitation can lead to heart damage and heart failure. However, with medication, lifestyle changes, and possibly surgery, people with aortic regurgitation can lead healthy lives.

Aortic Regurgitation (Leaky Heart Valve): Causes, Symptoms, Risks, and Treatment (2024)

FAQs

Aortic Regurgitation (Leaky Heart Valve): Causes, Symptoms, Risks, and Treatment? ›

The leakage may prevent the heart from doing a good enough job of pumping blood to the rest of the body. You may feel tired and short of breath. Aortic valve regurgitation can develop suddenly or over many years. Once the condition becomes severe, surgery often is needed to repair or replace the valve.

What to avoid when you have aortic regurgitation? ›

Limit sodium, alcohol, and sugar. Be active. Ask your doctor what type and level of exercise is safe for you. Don't smoke.

What is the best treatment for aortic regurgitation? ›

In severe acute aortic regurgitation (AR), surgical intervention is usually indicated, but the patient may be supported medically with dobutamine to augment cardiac output and shorten diastole and with sodium nitroprusside to reduce afterload in hypertensive patients.

Should I worry about aortic regurgitation? ›

You may have no symptoms at first, but as the condition worsens, you may have chest pain, shortness of breath or palpitations. Over time, a leaky aortic valve can damage your heart. So, timely treatment is essential.

How long can you live with a leaky aortic heart valve? ›

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 .

What is the 50 50 rule for aortic regurgitation? ›

The “50 rule” has been useful in gauging the timing of surgery in severe AR – that is, it ought to be performed before the EF falls below 50% or the end-systolic left ventricular dimension exceeds 50 mm.

What foods help heart valve leakage? ›

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.

Is caffeine bad for a leaky heart valve? ›

Patients with valvular regurgitation regularly use coffee and tea for a long time, which can lead to heart failure and anxiety disorders. In addition, tea and coffee can lead to increased blood pressure, slow blood transport, make heart valve disease worse.

What are 5 peripheral signs of aortic regurgitation? ›

Clinical signs of aortic regurgitation include the Becker sign, which is the visible pulsation of retinal arterioles via an ophthalmoscope; Corrigan pulse, which is a fast and forceful distension of the arterial pulse that collapses quickly; de Musset sign, which is when the head bobs with each heartbeat; Muller sign, ...

How to fix a leaky heart valve naturally? ›

Can a Heart Valve Repair Itself? Although some lifestyle changes and practices can undoubtedly improve heart health, the strength of heart valves cannot be significantly improved or repaired naturally once they have been damaged, says Dr. Bahadorani.

Does a leaky heart valve make you tired? ›

If the leakage is severe, not enough blood moves through the heart or to the rest of the body. Mitral valve regurgitation can make you feel very tired or short of breath.

Can aortic regurgitation heal itself? ›

A leaky heart valve cannot repair itself. Usually, treatment may involve surgery, but it can be possible to resolve the issue without surgery. A leaky heart valve, or valve regurgitation, occurs when blood flows in the wrong direction through the heart.

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

Other symptoms that may be a sign of worsening valve regurgitation include: more difficulty taking a deep breath, especially while lying down. increased heart palpitations. more frequent or worsening chest pain or tightness.

Is walking good for a leaky heart valve? ›

Exercise plays a crucial role in managing heart valve disease by promoting cardiovascular health, helping with symptoms, and enhancing overall well-being. Low impact options include walking, yoga, and swimming.

What happens if you don't fix a leaking heart valve? ›

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). The good news is that valve problems are often quite treatable.

How bad is a leaky aortic valve? ›

At the outset, the heart compensates well for this leakage, but over time, complications arise. As blood continually leaks back into the ventricle, the heart begins to swell, impacting its efficiency. Patients might experience fatigue, breathlessness, and eventually, heart failure.

What makes heart regurgitation worse? ›

The worsening of a mitral valve regurgitation case is often caused by a gradual reshaping of the valve as blood continues to leak. While many people with mitral regurgitation experience a worsening of their condition and related symptoms, some patients may also see a spontaneous improvement.

What increases aortic regurgitation? ›

Things that raise the risk of aortic valve regurgitation include: Older age. Heart problems present at birth, also called congenital heart defects. History of infections that can affect the heart.

How to improve heart regurgitation? ›

Take these steps:
  1. Manage blood pressure. Control of high blood pressure is important if you have mitral valve regurgitation.
  2. Eat a heart-healthy diet. ...
  3. Get regular exercise. ...
  4. Maintain a healthy weight. ...
  5. Prevent infective endocarditis. ...
  6. Avoid or limit alcohol. ...
  7. Avoid tobacco. ...
  8. Practice good sleep habits.
Sep 19, 2023

Is it safe to exercise with aortic valve regurgitation? ›

Individuals with severe aortic regurgitation can still partake in moderate-intensity exercise provided the left ventricle (LV) and aorta are not significantly dilated and the ejection fraction (EF) remains >50%.

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