Feeling unusually fatigued after routine tasks like climbing stairs or carrying groceries might be more than just a result of stress or ageing, warn cardiologists. If such tiredness persists or worsens, it could indicate an underlying heart issue, particularly related to heart valve disorders. The heart’s four valves are crucial for ensuring blood flows smoothly and correctly. When these valves narrow, stiffen, or leak, the extra effort required by the heart to pump blood can diminish oxygen supply to muscles and organs, causing ongoing fatigue even after minimal exertion.
Conditions such as aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation exemplify valve-related issues where blood flow may be impeded or leak backwards, impacting the heart’s efficiency. Unlike fatigue stemming from stress or poor sleep, which tends to improve with rest, heart-related tiredness can persist post-activity and gradually affect daily routines. Recognizing symptoms that accompany fatigue, like shortness of breath during light activity, chest pressure, dizziness, irregular heartbeat, or swelling in feet and abdomen, is crucial for early detection.
Heart valve problems often remain unnoticed initially because the heart compensates by working harder, with symptoms becoming apparent during physical exertion. This leads many to mistakenly attribute these signs to normal ageing or lack of fitness. However, older adults, especially those with high blood pressure, diabetes, previous heart infections, or a history of rheumatic fever, are at higher risk. Yet, younger individuals can also be affected due to congenital defects or infections.
Regular health check-ups play a vital role in early diagnosis. Sometimes, heart valve issues are detected through a heart murmur during a routine examination, prompting further tests like echocardiograms, ECGs, stress tests, or CT scans. Treatment varies based on the condition’s severity, with mild cases often managed through monitoring and lifestyle adjustments, while severe cases might require valve repair or replacement through newer minimally invasive techniques.