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Aortic Regurgitation

By

The Manual's Editorial Staff

Reviewed/Revised Jan 2023
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What is aortic regurgitation?

The aorta is the main artery that carries blood away from your heart to the rest of your body.

The Heart
VIDEO

Four heart valves control how blood flows in and out of your heart. The valves are like one-way doors that keep blood flowing in the right direction.

The aortic valve separates your heart from the aorta. This valve opens into the aorta to let blood out of your heart. The valve closes to keep blood from running back into your heart.

Aortic regurgitation is a leak in your aortic valve. Because of the leak, some of the blood pumped out of your heart flows back into your heart each time the left ventricle relaxes.

How the Heart Valves Work
VIDEO

What causes aortic regurgitation?

What are the symptoms of aortic regurgitation?

Mild aortic regurgitation may not cause symptoms.

  • Shortness of breath when exercising

  • Problems breathing when lying flat

  • Chest pain, especially at night

  • A dip in blood pressure

How can doctors tell if I have aortic regurgitation?

How do doctors treat aortic regurgitation?

Doctors may give you medicine to lower your blood pressure so there's less force pushing blood back into your heart. Aortic regurgitation often gets worse over time. Doctors will monitor your symptoms and repeat the echocardiography to decide when to do surgery. Your aortic valve should be surgically repaired or replaced before your heart muscle is damaged.

Doctors can replace the valve with:

  • A plastic, mechanical valve

  • A valve from a pig or cow heart (bioprosthetic valve)

If you get a mechanical valve, you'll need to take blood-thinning medicine for the rest of your life, but the valve may last several decades. If you get a bioprosthetic valve, you'll need to take the blood-thinning medicine for only a few months, but the valve will last only 10 to 12 years.

People with damaged or replaced valves sometimes need antibiotics to prevent heart valve infection, such as when they:

  • Get dental work

  • Have certain medical procedures

NOTE: This is the Consumer Version. DOCTORS: VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
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