Shortness of Breath and Swollen Legs? Could Be a Sign of Heart Valve Disease!
Shortness of Breath and Swollen Legs?
Could Be a Sign of Heart Valve Disease!
If you experience repeated symptoms such as difficulty breathing and leg swelling, it's important to get an accurate diagnosis.
The human heart consists of four chambers. Blood flows from the left atrium to the left ventricle and then to the aorta, supplying the entire body. It then returns through the right atrium and right ventricle, traveling to the lungs via the pulmonary artery. The mitral valve is located between the left atrium and left ventricle, and the aortic valve is between the left ventricle and the aorta, helping the heart circulate blood efficiently.
Heart valve disease refers to a condition where the valves, which act as gatekeepers collecting and releasing blood within the heart, do not function properly, causing an obstruction in blood flow. Normally, blood should flow smoothly in one direction, but if a valve does not open properly, stenosis occurs. If it does not close properly, regurgitation occurs. This disruption of blood flow gradually weakens heart function, eventually leading to various symptoms.
Common symptoms include shortness of breath, leg swelling, fatigue, and indigestion. You may also experience breathlessness easily during exercise or when climbing hills, or feel chest discomfort when lying down at night, causing you to get up. Swelling in the ankles and severe sock marks can also be signs of heart failure due to valve disease. If these symptoms are recurrent or persistent, it is essential to consult a doctor for an accurate examination.
The most common cause of valve disease is degenerative changes due to aging. As we age, the valve tissues harden and become damaged, leading to impaired function. In fact, surgically removed valves often show severe degeneration due to aging. Therefore, this disease typically occurs in elderly patients in their 70s and 80s. Other causes include congenital abnormalities in valve shape or valve damage due to past infections.
Treatment after diagnosis depends on the severity of the disease. For mild to moderate valve disease, it is important to correct lifestyle habits and manage underlying conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia thoroughly. However, if valve damage is severe and affects heart pumping function, medication, procedures, or surgery should be considered. The optimal treatment method is chosen by comprehensively considering the patient's age, comorbidities, life expectancy, and surgical risk.
Recently, minimally invasive procedures are being widely performed instead of open-heart surgery, especially for elderly patients. For patients with mitral valve regurgitation, where the mitral valve does not close properly, a mitral valve clip procedure (MitraClip procedure) is often performed to clip the valve leaflets together, reducing the gap in the valve and decreasing blood backflow.
For aortic valve stenosis, where the aortic valve hardens due to aging and does not open properly, or aortic valve insufficiency, where the valve wears out and does not close tightly, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is often performed. This procedure involves inserting a guidewire into a blood vessel to reach the aortic valve, inflating a balloon to widen the valve opening, and then replacing it with an artificial valve.
If left untreated, valve disease can severely damage the heart, reducing the effectiveness of treatment and increasing the risk of death. Therefore, it is crucial to seek early diagnosis and treatment when symptoms appear. Protecting heart function through accurate examination and appropriate treatment is the key to maintaining a healthy life.
- Professor Lee Sa-min, Department of Cardiology, Asan Medical Center -
If you experience repeated symptoms such as difficulty breathing and leg swelling, it's important to get an accurate diagnosis.
The most common cause of valve disease is degenerative changes due to aging. Therefore, it is crucial to seek early diagnosis and treatment.
Source :https://blog.naver.com/amc_seoul/224036618222
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