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Warning-sign checks

Aortic regurgitation: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Seek emergency care for:

    • Sudden severe shortness of breath or difficulty breathing at rest
    • New severe chest pain, especially pain that spreads to the back
    • Fainting with ongoing weakness, breathing trouble, or chest pain
    • Signs of stroke, such as facial drooping, arm weakness, or trouble speaking
    • Confusion, cold or clammy skin, or other signs of severely reduced circulation
    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Contact the treating clinician promptly for new or steadily worsening shortness of breath, reduced activity tolerance, palpitations, swelling, chest discomfort, or fainting.

    Fever, chills, night sweats, or persistent unexplained fatigue also deserve timely medical review, especially after a recent infection or procedure, because they can occur with endocarditis.

  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    Follow-up usually includes symptom review, blood pressure checks, physical examinations, and repeat echocardiograms.

    More frequent monitoring may be needed when regurgitation is severe, the left ventricle is changing, the aorta is enlarged, or new symptoms appear.

The article also says

Keep track of changes in exercise capacity.

Becoming short of breath on a familiar walk, needing more pillows to breathe comfortably, or developing new swelling may be more useful than judging a single difficult day.

Pregnancy increases the amount of blood the heart must pump.

Anyone with moderate or severe aortic regurgitation, an enlarged aorta, or a previous valve procedure should discuss pregnancy planning with a cardiology and obstetric team.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Aortic regurgitation. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.