my brother has a leaky heart the doctor saig and a clog artery
2007-02-17 09:18:58 · 3 answers · asked by mishoney 4 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Heart Diseases
Hello,
I am an Echocardiographer, I do ultrasound of the heart for a living. A leaky heart can mean that one of the four valves in the heart either isn't closing properly or has damage to it leaving a perforation or hole in the valve flap itself. A clogged artery is usually a reference to a blockage in one of the coronary arteries. The clogged artery can actually lead to the leaking valve depending on which artery is clogged and which valve is leaking. In my work I usually see the Mitral Valve leak when an artery is clogged that causes a muscle inside the heart to not get enough oxygen causing the valve to not close properly and leaving an open area where blood can leak backward. Pictures help a lot with understanding leaking valves and clogged arteries so I would highly recommend you visit the American Heart Association website at www.amhrt.org where you can get all the info you want with pictures to help you understand exactly how hearts get leaky and arteries get clogs. The good news is now days they can go in and fix these clogs and restore oxygenated blood flow to the muscles in the heart and a lot of times this fixes the leaking valves. They do this most of the time with what is called a heart catheterization and you can read about this as well at the website I listed. Your brother is lucky to have such a concerned sister at his side! I will be praying for his healing and quick recovery.
2007-02-17 16:35:41 · answer #1 · answered by Kristy W 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A "leaky heart" usually means a heart valve (usu. mitral valve) isn't closing properly, therefore blood in the lower chamber (ventricle) is "backing up" into the upper chamber (atrium). Leaks can be very minor or severe. Symptoms can include shortness of breath, tiredness, and palpatations. A small leak is not to worry about. I'm sure his MD is following up w/the clogged artery.
P.S. A leaky valve is also a called a heart murmur.
Hope your brother is feeling well--Best of luck!! :o)
2007-02-17 20:32:16 · answer #2 · answered by Laura P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it means he has a small rupture in his valve and the blood that flows through it leaks out in small amounts, and a clogged artery is just that, an artery that is clogged and not much if anything can get through
I wish you and your family luck
2007-02-17 17:23:01 · answer #3 · answered by Mystee_Rain 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋