Life expectancy for a person with a leaking heart valve can depend on which valve leaks, the leak’s severity, and available treatments. For example, mitral valve regurgitation life expectancy differs ...

In a healthy heart, blood flows in only one direction. The four valves of the heart prevent blood from flowing backward. But a leaky heart valve, or heart valve regurgitation, causes a backflow of ...

The valves consist of flaps that open to let blood flow in one direction as it moves through the chambers of the heart. Then the valves close to keep blood from flowing backwards into the chamber it ...