Leaking heart valve symptoms often mistaken for age‑related tiredness, doctor warns

Dr Ravinder Singh Rao, chief interventional cardiologist, says sudden fatigue, palpitations, nighttime breathing difficulty, leg swelling and breathlessness in older adults often signal a leaking heart valve rather than normal ageing. He explains that a faulty valve lets blood flow backward, reducing forward blood supply and forcing the heart to work harder. Fatigue appears when a person can no longer finish routine activities in the same time; a 75‑year‑old who now walks twice as slowly as six months ago should be evaluated after ruling out anemia. Palpitations arise because the heart beats faster and stronger to move extra volume; they are not simply anxiety. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, described as waking after two to three hours with breathlessness and having to sit up, points to mitral regurgitation that fills the lungs with fluid when lying down. Swelling of feet or lower legs that worsens by evening indicates raised venous pressure from inadequate cardiac output. Breathlessness that progresses from walking several kilometres to barely a kilometre, especially if new, also flags valve leakage. Rao advises an immediate cardiology visit and a 2‑D echocardiogram to confirm the diagnosis. Early detection may allow medication to control the condition; if drugs fail, catheter‑based valve repair can improve survival and cut hospital readmissions. Patients are urged to watch for these signs and seek evaluation before the disease advances.

Context

Leaking heart valves, often mitral regurgitation, become more common with age as valve tissue stiffens, making early symptom awareness important for preventing heart failure.