What’s the difference between a “leaking” or “sticking” valve and “heart murmur” and “arhythmia,” specifically concerning the aortic valve?
Also: I know that aerobic exercise strengthens the heart, but does any type of exercise correct valve-related problems?
“Leaking” and “sticking” refer to opposite problems. Often, however, they do occur together.
The usual terms for leaking and sticking are insufficiency (or regurgitation) and stenosis, respectively.
A murmur is a sound produced by the flow of blood within the hear itself (often, but not always indicating disease).
An arrythmia is abnormal rhythm of the heart. As you know, usually the heart rate is pretty regular except for occasional “skipped beats” which we all get from time to time. Arrythmias can cause faster than normal heart beating, slower than normal, or irregular beating. Some are fatal, some are mere nuisances. Hence, see a doc, blah, blah, blah …
Oops, I forgot to address your exercise question. The effect of exercise on the symptoms of a valve-related problem vary according to the problem. No particular exercise will corrrect the underlying problem. Some types of exercise will, however, kill the owner of the valve.
IANAD, but I subscribe to the belief that Arobic/Cardio exercise is a good preventive measure to keep things from getting too bad if you have valve regurgitation. As answered here already, valve regurgitation means blood is flowing back through the valve into the heart chamber and the heart is not pumping as much blood as it should. This causes the heart to work harder and in extreme cases swell to accommodate more blood to be pumped. So, again IMHO, strengthening your heart through aerobic exercise would help to keep things from getting too serious later on in life. Exercise will not correct the problem, but if your heart is strong, all the better.
I have Tricuspid valve prolapse causing regurgitation. My Doc says exercise can’t hurt and is a good idea for everyone (normal heart people too). Go figure!
FYI I was born with Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD). A hole in the wall of the heart separating the left and right ventricles. This closed by itself through scar tissue build up when I was around seven. The built up scar tissue causes the prolapse. Mine, and I think most peoples, is so minor that it doesn’t not effect me. I have no physical limitations. I just have an echocardiogram every two years to make sure things are still OK.
If you have regurgitation you have take antibiotics before a dental procedure because you’re at a higher risk for valve infection. But that’s no biggie!
Again IANAD, but from what I know for most people it’s just something you know
you have and keep an eye on. Like so many the health things just treat your body
right, eat well and exercise!
