Help! Heart valve leak and Tachycardia.

[Sazza1979]

Hi, I'm 31 and after an echocardiogram and a 48 hour holter recently, I have been told I have a "microscopic" heart valve leak. I also have bouts of Tachycardia, mainly, I feel brought about by adrenalin surges from anxiety and also perhaps exacerbated by the fact that I am currently iron-deficient and have low blood calcium (endocrinologist is looking into this and it may be due to kidney malfunction).

Some of my symptoms could be caused by the iron and/or calcium problem and/or the underlying cause for these. So myself and my Cardiologist agreed that it would be better to see to the other health problems and deal with stress to wait and see if my symptoms improve or whether they stay.

However, in the mean time I realise it is a concern to me what this heart valve leak may mean. My main question is do symptoms directly correlate with the severity of a heart valve leak? Ie, if my leak is only "microscopic" as the cardiologist termed it, does that mean it would not cause symptoms or would only cause extremely minor symptoms?

Also, does this condition get worse later on?

Lastly, can it cause Tachycardia, or does Tachycardia cause it?

Many thanks.

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

i have the leaks to found out this year. my cardio is not concerend at all says its very common

[Sazza1979]

Thanks kenkeith, yes, I know that I have normal sinus rhythm, and it is sinus tachycardia, so what you've told me does reassure me that it's not caused by a heart defect but more likely anxiety (my adrenal gland is a bit overactive at times) which may or may not be exacerbated by the fact that I do have electrolyte imbalances. This also helps me, in knowing that my symptoms are indeed likely to be caused some other health issue. There are a lot of indicators for Nephrotic Kidney Syndrome (I won't bore you with that).

My cardiologist and I did discuss Beta Blockers (he brought it up saying if my symptoms were very bothersome it was an option), but we agreed that since a lot of my symptoms could well be caused by Anaemia, and/or low Calcium, or even the underlying condition, as well as of course stress, then it would be better to have stress management, and see to the other health issues, before opting fo anything like that. I feel that my heart is in fact perhaps doing it's job some of the time that it beats fast, as it is trying to make up for a lack elsewhere, obviously not so much with regard to the anxiety, but I'm doing quite well in that regard at the moment, so if it ain't broke why fix it as they say.

Many thanks, you have really helped me. :)

[kenkeith]

Almost always mild, trace, (microscopic) etc. leak.of a heart valve is not considered medically significant and does not progress, cause symptoms nor any system disorder.  Not an uncommon condition and not associated with your symptoms.  The reason there is a small leak has to do with a very slight defect (usually congenital) that may prevent the leaflets from tightly closing over the valve opening to prevent back flow of blood from the pumping chamber.

Likely the tachycardia has to do with an overactive thyroid or other metabolic imbalance, electrolyte imbalance, anxiety, genetics, and there can be due to abnormal electrical source (sinus node), and or electrical properties that trigger a tachy event.

Hope this gives you a perspective and help you avoid the associated stress that can exacerbate the problem as you acknowledge.  Thanks for sharing and take care.