What Increases Your Risk

The risk factors for aortic valve regurgitation are:

• Congenital heart defects, such as being born with an aortic valve with one (unicuspid) or two (bicuspid) flaps, called leaflets, rather than three.
• Old age.
• Being male.
• Other health problems, such as Marfan's syndrome, high blood pressure, and autoimmune diseases.

Tell your doctor if one of your close family members has a congenital aortic valve defect. This may also increase your risk.

When to Call a Doctor

Call your doctor if you have symptoms of aortic valve regurgitation such as fainting, chest pain, or shortness of breath. Your doctor will confirm whether you have valve problems or some other condition. For more information, see Symptoms.

Acute aortic valve regurgitation comes on suddenly. Symptoms include severe shortness of breath, a rapid heart rate, lightheadedness, weakness, confusion, and chest pain.

Acute aortic valve regurgitation is a medical emergency. Call immediately.

Who to see

Health professionals who can diagnose aortic valve regurgitation include:

• Family medicine doctors.
• General practitioners.
• Internists.
• Emergency medicine specialists.

After you have been diagnosed, you may be referred to a cardiologist, who specializes in heart diseases. The specialist will monitor your condition and help determine when valve replacement is needed.