Aortic regurgitation is a medical condition in which the
aortic valve does not close fully and causes some blood flow leakage back into
the left ventricle while it should be pumped fully into the aorta. While aortic
regurgitation may not cause symptoms initially and for a long time, eventually,
affected individuals develop symptoms such as fatigue and fainting due to less
oxygen supply, as well as breathlessness and heart failure due to enlargement
of the left ventricle. Individuals suffering from this condition are also more
at risk of getting endocarditis. Congenital causes such as a two leaflet valve
instead of the normal three leaves, old age, infections like rheumatic fever
and endocarditis, high blood pressure, and aortic stenosis are known causes for
this condition.
A clinical history, clinical examination, and tests like
ECG, 2d echo and chest X-ray are usually sufficient for a diagnosis of this condition;
rarely, cardiac catheterization may be required. Conservative treatment is
given in the form of regular monitoring, lifestyle changes like regular
exercise, weight control and quitting smoking, and medications to reduce high
blood pressure. Surgical procedures involve valve replacement using open heart
surgery or by a catheter procedure known as TAVR which is less invasive.
Ayurvedic herbal treatment can be judiciously used in the
successful long term management of aortic regurgitation. Herbal medicines are
used to control blood pressure, reduce obesity, reduce calcium deposition and thereby
reduce thickening, hardening and scarring of valve leaflets, use specific
medicines to make the aortic valve and adjoining tendon chords more pliable and
efficient, improve heart muscle strength, elasticity and efficiency, and improve
cardiac output. If required, herbal medicines can also be given to treat or
prevent long term infection and inflammation.
Most patients with mild to moderate aortic valve
regurgitation can be managed very well using Ayurvedic herbal medicines.
Treatment is usually required for about 8-10 months. For patients with
moderately severe regurgitation, some medicines to maintain heart efficiency
and normalize blood pressure may be required on a long term or lifelong basis.
Patients with very severe aortic regurgitation are best treated surgically;
however, those who are not fit for surgery - for various reasons - may still be
managed well with Ayurvedic herbal treatment.
