Latest news with #cardiologists
Health Line
a day ago
- General
- Health Line
Valvular regurgitation: What You Need to Know
Valvular regurgitation is when blood flows backward through the chambers of your heart. It can be mild and not cause symptoms, or it can be life threatening. Your heart is a muscular organ that contains four chambers. Blood flows between these chambers and your lungs in a set pattern to distribute oxygen-containing blood to every organ in your body. Your heart also contains four valves that control blood flow through its chambers. Valvular regurgitation occurs when blood moves backward through one of these valves. The severity depends largely on the amount of blood that backflows and whether or not it is causing symptoms or other problems. Minor cases might not cause symptoms, whereas more severe cases may lead to issues such as shortness of breath or heartbeat abnormalities. Read on to learn more about valvular regurgitation, including types, potential symptoms, and causes. Types of valvular regurgitation Valvular regurgitation is named after the valve through which blood backflows through. Types include: Tricuspid valve regurgitation: Your tricuspid valve is found between your right atrium and right ventricle. Tricuspid valve regurgitation is characterized by the backflow of blood into your right atrium. Pulmonary valve regurgitation: Your pulmonary valve separates your right ventricle from the blood vessels supplying your lungs. Regurgitation can cause blood to flow back into your right ventricle from these blood vessels. Mitral valve regurgitation: Your mitral valve is found between your left atrium and left ventricle. Mitral valve regurgitation is characterized by the backflow of blood into your left atrium. Aortic valve regurgitation: The aortic valve is found between your left ventricle and your aorta, the large blood vessel that carries blood away from your heart. Aortic valve regurgitation causes blood to flow back into your left ventricle from your aorta. The most common type is mitral valvular regurgitation. What are the symptoms of valvular regurgitation? Symptoms of valvular regurgitation can range from non-apparent to severe. If your condition is caused by another condition, such as heart failure, your symptoms may get progressively worse over time. Symptoms may include: irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) shortness of breath, which might be worse when lying flat new or worsening heart palpitations, which can cause heart: pounding fluttering whooshing swelling around your feet or ankles coughing feeling faint fatigue chest pain It's important to see your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms. Severe cases can lead to complications such as: heart failure arrhythmia (irregular heart rhythm) sudden cardiac arrest blood clots stroke pulmonary hypertension What are the causes of valvular regurgitation? Valvular regurgitation can develop due to congenital heart problems present from birth or develop secondary to other conditions affecting your heart. Tricuspid valve regurgitation: In adults, tricuspid regurgitation is usually secondary to other heart problems, such as cardiomyopathies. Cardiomyopathy is a disease of your heart muscle, and coronary artery disease is when plaque builds up in the blood vessels in your heart and restricts blood flow. Pulmonary valve regurgitation: The leading causes of pulmonary valve regurgitation in adults are pulmonary hypertension or congenital heart defects. Pulmonary hypertension is high blood pressure in the blood vessels connecting your heart and lungs. Mitral valve regurgitation: Primary mitral valve regurgitation can develop due to congenital heart defects, infections, and complications such as rheumatic heart disease, or connective tissue disorders such as Marfan syndrome or lupus. Secondary mitral valve regurgitation can develop due to conditions such as congestive heart failure or atrial fibrillation. Aortic valve disease: The two most common causes of aortic regurgitation are dilated aorta and bicuspid aortic valve. Calcified aortic stenosis is when your aortic valve thickens and narrows due to calcium buildup. How is valvular regurgitation treated? The treatment for valvular regurgitation depends on the underlying cause and severity. Mild cases might not need any treatment, but your doctor may still want to follow up regularly to ensure your condition doesn't progress. More severe cases may require medications or surgery to prevent and manage complications and symptoms. Medications Doctors may prescribe people with valvular heart disease many types of medications, such as the following: angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers to open your blood vessels anti-arrhythmic medications to restore your heart rhythm antibiotics to prevent infections anticoagulants to reduce the risk of blood clots beta-blockers to help your heart beat slower diuretics to reduce the amount of fluid in your body vasodilators to reduce your heart's workload Surgery Severe cases of valvular regurgitation may require valve repair or valve replacement. These procedures may be performed through open-heart surgery or minimally invasive procedures, where your surgeon makes the repair or replacement through a small incision and special tools. These noninvasive procedures are catheter-based therapies. A cardiologist inserts the catheter into the blood vessels to reach the heart. Learn more about valve replacement surgery. Frequently asked questions Here are some frequently asked questions people have about valve regurgitation. What is meant by valve regurgitation? Valvular regurgitation is when a valve in your heart doesn't close completely, and blood flows backward into one of the chambers of your heart. It can also occur if blood flows back from the blood vessels leaving the heart, such as the aorta or pulmonary artery, back into the heart. Valvular regurgitation is when a valve in your heart doesn't close completely, and blood flows backward into one of the chambers of your heart. It can also occur if blood flows back from the blood vessels leaving the heart, such as the aorta or pulmonary artery, back into the heart. What is the life expectancy of a person with valvular regurgitation? The life expectancy for people with valvular regurgitation depends on factors such as the severity and other medical conditions. The life expectancy for people with valvular regurgitation depends on factors such as the severity and other medical conditions. How serious is valve regurgitation? If valve regurgitation is left untreated, it can be a serious problem, potentially leading to heart failure. It's important to seek medical attention if you suspect you may have heart valve regurgitation and follow up with any recommended treatment plans and tests. If valve regurgitation is left untreated, it can be a serious problem, potentially leading to heart failure. It's important to seek medical attention if you suspect you may have heart valve regurgitation and follow up with any recommended treatment plans and tests. Takeaway Valvular regurgitation is the backflow of blood through one of the valves in your heart. Mild cases might not be of concern or cause symptoms. More severe cases can cause serious symptoms that may be life threatening.
ABC News
3 days ago
- General
- ABC News
Port Adelaide star Ollie Wines considering second surgery to address heart irregularity
Port Adelaide's Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines is considering more heart surgery at the end of the AFL season. Wines suffers from a heart irregularity which sometimes causes palpitations, leading him to be substituted out of three games in the past four seasons. The 30-year-old admits frustration at the condition arising most recently — and forcing his substitution — from Port's away win against Sydney on April 20. That episode followed heart surgery last December in a bid to correct the issue. "I had a procedure back in December and there was 1 per cent likeliness that it wouldn't work," Wines told reporters on Monday. "And unfortunately, I'm in the 1 per cent that it hasn't worked. "So we've gone back to a bit of an intervention plan that we had the previous two years to manage it up to that operation and that is working well so far. "We will reassess at the end of the season to see if we do it again and try a surgical operation." But Wines remained pragmatic about his heart issue. "It was frustrating (to be subbed out against Sydney)," he said. "But, look, at the end of the day, luckily for me it's not life threatening. "And it's something that cost me a game of footy, enough to get subbed out of a game of footy. "So I'm in a really fortunate position. I've got the best cardiologists and doctors around me at the footy club and they've talked me through everything. "So at the moment, it's just this plan that has previously worked. "I've never had an episode when we're using this intervention and once the season ends, we'll assess if I need a procedure again." Wines and his teammates have returned to training after a mid-season bye which came with the Power languishing in 15th spot with four wins and seven losses ahead of meeting GWS in Canberra on Saturday night. Some pundits have blamed Port's fall on the coaching succession plan — head coach Ken Hinkley will step down at season's end and be replaced by long-time assistant Josh Carr. But Wines said from the February announcement of the handover "nothing has changed". "Ken's our coach, he will be for the rest of the year," he said. "And I know he's got a lot of energy and enthusiasm for the job and we'll be there for him.. "Despite not winning a premiership, I think we've always been up there and we've played a lot of finals. "Ken's done a lot for me personally as a footballer and off the field so I'm always going to play for him." AAP
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Footy star Ollie Wines reveals the brutal bad luck that could force him to have MORE heart surgery after two horrifying scares
Port Adelaide's Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines is considering more heart surgery at the end of the AFL season. Wines suffers from a heart irregularity which sometimes causes palpitations, leading him to be substituted out of three games in the past four seasons. The 30-year-old admits frustration at the condition arising most recently - and forcing his substitution - from Port's away win against Sydney on April 20. That episode followed heart surgery last December in a bid to correct the issue. 'I had a procedure back in December and there was one per cent likeliness that it wouldn't work,' Wines told reporters on Monday. 'And unfortunately, I'm in the one per cent that it hasn't worked. 'So we've gone back to a bit of an intervention plan that we had the previous two years to manage it up to that operation and that is working well so far. 'We will reassess at the end of the season to see if we do it again and try a surgical operation.' But Wines remained pragmatic about his heart issue. 'It was frustrating (to be subbed out against Sydney),' he said. 'But, look, at the end of the day, luckily for me it's not life threatening. 'And it's something that cost me a game of footy, enough to get subbed out of a game of footy. 'So I'm in a really fortunate position. I've got the best cardiologists and doctors around me at the footy club and they've talked me through everything. 'So at the moment, it's just this plan that has previously worked. I've never had an episode when we're using this intervention and once the season ends, we'll assess if I need a procedure again.' Wines and his teammates have returned to training after a mid-season bye which came with the Power languishing in 15th spot with four wins and seven losses ahead of meeting GWS in Canberra on Saturday night. Some pundits have blamed Port's fall on the coaching succession plan - head coach Ken Hinkley will step down at season's end and be replaced by long-time assistant Josh Carr. But Wines said from the February announcement of the handover 'nothing has changed'. 'Ken's our coach, he will be for the rest of the year,' he said. 'And I know he's got a lot of energy and enthusiasm for the job and we'll be there for him.. 'Despite not winning a premiership, I think we've always been up there and we've played a lot of finals. 'Ken's done a lot for me personally as a footballer and off the field so I'm always going to play for him.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
The Silent Symptom Most People Don't Realize Could Be a Heart Issue, According to Cardiologists
The Silent Symptom Most People Don't Realize Could Be a Heart Issue, According to Cardiologists originally appeared on Parade. Heart attacks are often conveyed as sudden, obvious and marked by horrible chest pain. However, cardiologists are ringing the alarm: Heart attacks and other cardiovascular issues can often sneak up on us, largely because we don't know all of the symptoms we might experience."We often think of a heart attack as a crushing chest pain or pressure in the middle of the chest, but there are times when heart disease feels different," shares , a board-certified cardiologist and lipidologist at MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center.🩺 💊 So many people are at risk for—and will experience—cardiovascular disease during their lifetimes. The American Heart Association's 2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Update found that heart disease remains the No. 1 killer of U.S. adults, fueled by increases in risk factors like hypertension. Yet cardiologists emphasize that early detection can save lives. They're raising their voices on a silent heart disease symptom they wish more people knew Pain in the jaw or neck without chest discomfort can be an early warning sign of heart problems, explains a cardiologist with Vital Heart & Vein in Houston. Dr. Kee adds that the pain can also present in the shoulder or arm and says women, older adults and people with chronic conditions like diabetes are especially at high risk for experiencing this commonly overlooked symptom of cardiovascular concerns, including heart also suggests that women are more likely to experience jaw pain with a heart attack (and it's sometimes written off as a toothache). However, one cardiologist shares that it's easy for anyone to overlook these symptoms."Patients may dismiss these symptoms as 'just tension,' but cardiologists are taught to evaluate unexplained discomfort above the waist with concern, particularly in high-risk patients," says , a board-certified cardiologist, the founder of Manhattan Cardiology, Medical Offices of Manhattan and co-founder of talked a lot about heart attacks, but Dr. Ni says jaw and neck pain may also suggest other cardiovascular issues. "There are other heart conditions that can also induce neck and jaw pain, including heart valve issues and heart rhythm problems," Dr. Ni also may not be a heart issue at all. "Just because someone has risk indicators or pain in a typical region does not imply a cardiac cause," Dr. Segal says. "Proper cardiac screening is crucial. Jaw and neck pain can also be caused by muscle strain, tooth infections, and joint or spinal disorders."Related: When the pain is related to heart disease or attacks, there's no structural or physical issue in the neck and jaw. Instead, the mind is misreading signals. "Our internal organs transmit 'pain' via the autonomic nervous system," says , an interventional cardiologist and chief medical officer at VitalSolution, an Ingenovis Health Serwer explains that the autonomic nervous system plays a vital role in numerous functions, including blood pressure and heart rate regulation."When the heart is injured, the autonomic nervous system transmits signals to the brain indicating an injury," Dr. Serwer adds. "The pain is interpreted as referred pain. Referred pain may present as chest, jaw, neck or arm pain." Related: Everyone is different, but Dr. Ni says patients often experience jaw and neck pain on their left sides, which makes sense because that's where the heart is Kee often hears heart-related jaw and neck pain described as: Dull ache or tightness in the lower jaw or throat Pressure-like or heavy sensations Pain radiating to the ear, shoulder or left arm If the pain is a sign of a heart attack, it's tough to say whether the pain means you're about to experience one or the event is already in progress."There is no set period; jaw or neck pain could precede a heart attack by minutes, hours or even days," Dr. Segal explains. "Think of it like a leaking pipe—you might notice a subtle drip, or jaw [and] neck pain, before the pipe bursts. Or you could have a heart attack. The earlier you investigate, the better."Related: When in doubt, Dr. Serwer suggests getting immediate ER care for jaw and neck pain. It could be a sign of a heart attack. "This is especially true for those at an increased risk for having a heart attack—those with diabetes, known coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking or family history," Dr. Serwer says, adding it's better to be safe. Dr. Kee explains that doctors will treat suspected heart attacks immediately, potentially using: Aspirin to reduce clotting Nitroglycerin (a medication) to ease chest discomfort Oxygen and IV medications Cardiac catheterization and angioplasty (a minimally invasive procedure that can open arteries) Stents or bypass surgery, depending on the severity Dr. Kee says the outlook depends on numerous factors, including how quickly treatment begins. "Early recognition of warning signs—even the atypical ones like jaw or neck pain—can drastically improve outcomes," he explains. "Don't wait for chest pain. Your heart could be speaking a different language. Learn to listen." Up Next:Dr. Yu-Ming Ni, MD, a board-certified cardiologist and lipidologist at MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center 2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Update. American Heart Association. Dr. Patrick Kee, M.D., Ph.D., a cardiologist with Vital Heart & Vein in Houston Orofacial Pain and Toothache as the Sole Symptom of an Acute Myocardial Infarction Entails a Major Risk of Misdiagnosis and Death. Journal of Oral & Facial Pain and Headache (OFPH). Dr. Robert Segal, MD, a board-certified cardiologist, the founder of Manhattan Cardiology, Medical Offices of Manhattan and co-founder of Dr. Bradley Serwer, MD, an interventional cardiologist and chief medical officer at VitalSolution, an Ingenovis Health company The Silent Symptom Most People Don't Realize Could Be a Heart Issue, According to Cardiologists first appeared on Parade on Jun 1, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Adding This Leafy Green to Lunch Lowers Systolic Levels Fast, According to Cardiologists
Adding This Leafy Green to Lunch Lowers Systolic Levels Fast, According to Cardiologists originally appeared on Parade. A small tweak to your lunch routine may do wonders for your heart health thanks to its impact on your systolic blood pressure.A study published in Nutrients reported that dark, leafy greens like arugula, cabbage, chard, kale and spinach that are high in vitamins, minerals are amazing for your blood pressure. But there's one that cardiologists love the most when it comes to nutritional value and cardiovascular health benefits, particularly on systolic blood pressure.A quick refresher on blood pressure readings in case you need it: Your systolic pressure is the upper number on your blood pressure reading, which the American Heart Association explains is the measurement of the pressure of your blood pushing against your arterial walls when your heart beats. The bottom number is your diastolic blood pressure, which is the pressure your blood puts on the walls of your arteries when your heart is at rest in between out the best leafy green to toss in your lunch bag for a seriously big boost to your precious ticker.🩺SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week💊 Shoutout to our boy Popeye: It's spinach! "Spinach may help lower systolic blood pressure, largely due to its rich content of dietary nitrates," Dr. Deepak Talreja, MD, cardiologist and clinical chief of cardiology at Sentara Health, tells Parade. "When we eat nitrate-rich foods like spinach, the body converts nitrates to nitric oxide, a molecule that relaxes and dilates blood vessels."When your blood vessels are dilated and relaxed, Dr. Talreja explains, your blood flow improves and your vascular resistance, which is the resistance against blood flowing through your veins and arteries."This can lead to a modest reduction in systolic blood pressure," he also points out that multiple studies support the impact of spinach on systolic blood pressure, singling out one in particular. "A randomized crossover trial published inHypertension found that a diet high in nitrate-rich vegetables such as spinach significantly reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hypertensive patients, particularly when consumed regularly," he says. "The effect may be seen within hours of consumption and can persist with daily intake." That said, if you're on medication for any cardiovascular issue, spinach isn't a substitute for that! But in most cases, it absolutely can be a huge boon to your health. "Regularly incorporating fresh spinach into meals—whether in salads, smoothies or sautés—can be a simple, natural way to support healthier blood pressure and overall cardiovascular wellbeing," Dr. Talreja says. "While spinach alone won't replace medications or other proven treatments, it can be part of a broader dietary strategy aligned with the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) and Mediterranean diets—both of which are associated with lower cardiovascular risk."Related: Whether You're Dealing With High Blood Pressure or Want to Avoid It in the Future, Here Are the 25 Best Foods to Eat There are so many—there's a reason it's most cardiologists' favorite food for protecting your arteries. According to Dr. Talreja, these are the main other ways spinach can contribute to your cardiovascular health. "Spinach is high in potassium, which helps counterbalance sodium in the diet and supports healthy blood pressure regulation," Dr. Talreja says. Related: The One Habit That Can Lower Your Blood Pressure Overnight, According to a Cardiologist "Adequate magnesium intake is associated with improved endothelial function and reduced risk of arrhythmias," he tells us. (Endothelial function means how well the thin inner lining of cells in your blood vessels work.) Antioxidants are so good for you in so many ways. Dr. Talreja says that spinach is particularly high in vitamin C, vitamin E and beta-carotene, all of which can reduce oxidative stress. Oxidative stress, in turn, can contribute to atherosclerosis (arteries clogged with cholesterol, fats and other substances) and vascular inflammation (damaged blood vessels).Related: "Folate is a B-vitamin helps lower homocysteine levels, which are linked to endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular risk," Dr. Talreja explains. Dr. Talreja says this means it's great for weight control, blood sugar regulation and lipid management. You'll feel fuller longer when you eat it, which can also help prevent you from succumbing to cravings for less healthy snacks. Up Next:"Understanding Blood Pressure Readings." American Heart Association. Kapil, et. al. "Dietary nitrate provides sustained blood pressure lowering in hypertensive patients: a randomized, phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled study." Hypertension. Dr. Deepak Talreja, MD Adding This Leafy Green to Lunch Lowers Systolic Levels Fast, According to Cardiologists first appeared on Parade on May 31, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on May 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
