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Aortic valve regurgitation
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AORTIC VALVE REGURGITATION AT HCA UK
Why choose us?
If you’re worried about your heart health, we can help. We’re the UK’s No.1 for private cardiac care and treat more than 36,000 patients each year across our network of hospitals in London, Birmingham and Manchester.
We offer fast access to our heart specialists, whose unrivalled experience is backed by state-of-the-art diagnostics to accurately diagnose your condition and recommend the most effective form of treatment.
Our modern facilities includes five cardiac centres and six cardiac theatres, where our leading surgeons carry out the latest minimally invasive procedures, including aortic valve repairs and TAVIs. With a 99% surgery success rate, you can be confident you’re in safe hands.
Aortic regurgitation is a type of heart valve disease. The aortic valve controls the flow of blood from the heart to the body. It separates the left ventricle (the main pumping chamber of the heart) from the aorta (the main artery supplying blood to the body). It’s a one-way valve that ensures blood moves in the correct direction. It has three leaflets that open with each heartbeat to allow blood to flow from the ventricle to the aorta. The three leaflets come together to close the aortic valve when the heart relaxes, between each heartbeat.
If the valve doesn't close properly, it can leak, allowing blood that has been pumped out to flow back into the heart. This is known as aortic regurgitation.
Aortic regurgitation means the heart pumps less efficiently and, in addition, puts strain on the left ventricle. This can lead to heart failure.
Aortic valve regurgitation can affect any age group, but most often is detected in middle to late life. It may be present for many years before symptoms develop.
You may experience the following symptoms:
- Fatigue and general weakness, especially when exercising
- Breathlessness/shortness of breath when exercising or lying down
- Chest pain or tightness that may increase when exercising
- Feeling lightheaded or fainting
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Swollen ankles and feet due to heart failure
The causes of aortic regurgitation can include:
- Congenital heart disease
- Aortic stenosis
- Endocarditis
- Rheumatic fever
- A chest injury or tear of the aorta
- Rare genetic conditions, such as Marfan syndrome
- Autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus
- Dilation of the aortic root
It’s a relatively common heart valve disease, affecting around 1.5 million people over the age of 65 in the UK.
To reduce your risk, it’s important to maintain good heart health by making changes to your lifestyle. These include:
- Eating a healthy, balanced diet: Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, low-fat or fat-free dairy products, poultry, fish, and whole grains. Try to avoid processed foods and foods containing saturated and trans fats. Cut down on salt and sugar.
- Exercise regularly: Your consultant will advise you on the best exercise for your symptoms and the severity of your condition.
- Maintain a healthy weight: If you’re overweight, losing weight can relieve pressure on your heart by helping to lower blood pressure and the risk of complications. Your consultant will advise you on what your ideal weight should be.
- Stop smoking and reduce your alcohol intake: It’s important that you stop smoking. Your GP or consultant will be able to provide advice on this. You should also cut down on alcohol and reduce your intake to the recommended weekly guidelines.
- Get plenty of sleep: It’s important to try and maintain a good sleep pattern, as poor sleep may increase the risk of heart disease and other chronic conditions. Try to go to bed and wake at the same time every day, including on weekends, and aim to get seven to nine hours of sleep each night.
- See your GP: If you notice any heart symptoms, it’s best to get them checked as soon as possible. If you have an existing heart condition, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure, you should take any medicine prescribed by your doctor and make sure you attend any follow-up appointments.
36,000+
Cardiac patients treated every year
99%
Success rate across all cardiac surgery
250+
Cardiology consultants for you to choose from
Next-day appointments
See a specialist and get on the path to an expert diagnosis in as little as 24 hours.
State-of-the-art diagnostics
With results in as little as 48 hours.
Wide-reaching expertise across the UK
Choose from 5 hospitals and 15 diagnostic centres in London, Manchester and Birmingham.
Worried about your heart, but not sure what to do?
Get in touch and book a same- or next-day GP appointment.
Have a referral and need to book?
If you already have a referral letter, it couldn’t be simpler. You can book a test or treatment directly.
Unsure of a diagnosis and need some answers?
We’re happy to help. Just book an appointment with one of our expert cardiologists and they’ll talk you through everything you need to know.
TESTS AND SCANS FOR AORTIC REGURITATION AT HCA UK
A fast, accurate diagnosis
At HCA UK, our leading private hospitals and outpatient centres are equipped with state-of-the-art imaging and diagnostic technology. To provide you with an accurate diagnosis, our cardiologists may refer you for one or more of the following:
- Chest X-ray
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Echocardiogram
- Coronary angiogram (cardiac catheterisation)
- Cardiac MRI
- Cardiac stress test
TREATMENTS FOR AORTIC REGURGITATION AT HCA UK
Expert care when you need it
At HCA UK, we offer a wide range of treatments for aortic regurgitation. The treatment you’ll need will depend on the severity of your symptoms. If your symptoms are mild, your cardiologist may simply recommend healthy lifestyle changes, medications to protect the heart and ongoing monitoring of the condition.
If your symptoms have become severe, you may need surgery or a minimally invasive procedure to correct your leaky valve.
We offer the following treatments:
- Lifestyle changes to help maintain good heart health
- Medication to control symptoms
- Regular monitoring with echocardiography
- Aortic valve surgery
- Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI)
Accessing private health care
Self-pay
You don’t need health insurance to be seen quickly. If you’re looking for a diagnosis or treatment and don’t want to wait, all our private healthcare services – from private GP appointments through to surgery and aftercare – can be paid for as and when you need them.
And to give you peace of mind from the start, we’ll offer you a clear and transparent quote outlining exactly what’s included in your self-pay package.
Aortic valve regurgitation FAQs
If you’re symptoms are mild, then your consultant may be able to treat them and slow the progression of the disease with medicine(s). These may include:
- Diuretics (water pills) to reduce fluid build-up in your lungs and/or other areas of the body.
- Calcium channel blockers to lower blood pressure by limiting the amount of calcium that can enter your blood vessels and heart.
- Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors to lower blood pressure and protect the left ventricle.
Like all medicines, the medicines we use to treat aortic regurgitation can cause side effects. Your consultant will always explain the side effects to you and why they believe medicine is the best way to treat your symptoms. They’ll take the time to listen to your concerns and answer any questions you may have about the medicine(s) being prescribed.
Aortic regurgitation usually develops gradually and without symptoms for many years, so many people live with the condition without realising it. However, it’s important to seek medical help if you’re experiencing symptoms such as breathlessness and ongoing fatigue. If the condition is left untreated, you may experience the following:
- Dizziness and fainting
- Infections of the heart, such as endocarditis
- Cardiac arrhythmia (an irregular heartbeat)
- Heart failure
If you’re worried about your heart health, our experts can help. At HCA, we offer a range of treatments for aortic regurgitation that are carefully tailored to your symptoms.
If you have severe symptoms and need surgery to repair or replace your leaky valve, then your consultant will talk you through the risks of the procedure. They’ll also take the time to listen to your concerns and answer any questions you may have.
Rest assured, you’ll be in safe hands. At HCA UK, we've cared for almost 110,000 cardiac patients in the last three years and our survival rate for all cardiac surgeries between 2022 and 2024 was 99%.
There are certain factors that can increase your risk of developing aortic regurgitation. These include:
- Being over the age of 65
- A congenital heart condition (one you were born with)
- Having had a condition that can affect the heart valves, such as rheumatic heart disease
- Genetic conditions, such as Marfan syndrome
- Autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus
- High blood pressure
- Dilation of the aortic root
If it’s left untreated, then aortic regurgitation can be serious. This is because it can lead to complications, such as arrythmia (an irregular heartbeat) and heart failure. If you’re experiencing any heart symptoms, it’s important that you get them checked by a GP or heart specialist.
If you’re worried about your symptoms and don’t want to wait to see a GP, then we can help. At HCA UK, we can offer same- or next-day appointments with one of our private GPs.
It’s important to eat a healthy, balanced diet. You should reduce your intake of processed foods, salt and foods that contain high levels of salt (sodium) and foods that contain saturated and trans fats.
It’s important to take regular gentle exercise, such as walking, but you should avoid any strenuous exercise and heavy lifting. Your consultant will be able to advise you on what type of exercise is suitable for your condition and symptoms.
Our patients’ stories
How a valve replacement helped Steve breathe easy again
When Steve found out his breathlessness was caused by a narrowed aortic valve, he was terrified of the thought of the open-heart surgery that might be needed to treat it. But with the expertise of Professor Sagar Doshi at The Harborne Hospital, he learned he could have a ‘keyhole’ alternative called TAVI.
Susan's journey to heart health
A family history of cardiac issues and annual check-ups unveiled a series of new conditions.
Treating Helaina's heart rhythm disorder
Helaina from Northamptonshire was just 16 when she began experiencing unusual symptoms, including shortness of breath and heart palpitations, which rapidly worsened. She was otherwise fit, healthy and a huge lover of the great outdoors, leading to her family to grow concerned.
“My TAVI aortic valve replacement produced immediate improvements to my growing breathlessness and tiredness. I was in hospital for less than 48 hours. I suffered no pain or discomfort during or after the operation. I’m most grateful to Professor Doshi and his team for looking after me so well.”
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This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.