Aortic Valve Regurgitation

When to Call a Doctor

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

Acute aortic valve regurgitation comes on suddenly, with severe shortness of breath, a rapid heart rate, and light-headedness. Acute aortic valve regurgitation is a medical emergency: Call 911 immediately.

Who to See

Your family doctor, general practitioner, or an emergency medicine specialist can diagnose aortic valve regurgitation.

Once 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.

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Author:	Douglas Dana Merrill Hayden	Last Updated: April 7, 2006
Medical Review:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology
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