Feeling unusually fatigued during everyday activities like climbing stairs or carrying groceries could be more than just a sign of stress or ageing, warn cardiologists. This persistent exhaustion might indicate an underlying heart problem, particularly if it escalates over time. One potential cause doctors highlight is a heart valve disorder. The heart’s four valves ensure blood flows correctly, but when they become narrow, stiff, or leaky, it forces the heart to exert more effort to circulate blood, leading to reduced oxygen supply to muscles and organs. This can result in constant tiredness, even after minimal exertion.
Conditions such as aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation exemplify valve-related issues. These conditions can restrict blood flow or cause it to leak backward, compromising the heart’s efficiency. Health experts differentiate fatigue linked to heart valve problems from ordinary tiredness due to stress or poor sleep. Unlike common fatigue, which usually subsides with rest, heart-related fatigue may persist post-activity and gradually impact daily life. Accompanying warning signs include shortness of breath during light activity or while lying down, chest discomfort, dizziness, an irregular heartbeat, swelling in the feet, and fainting episodes.
Specialists note that heart valve problems often remain unnoticed in the early stages because the heart compensates by working harder. Symptoms typically become apparent during physical exertion, leading many to attribute them to normal ageing or low fitness levels. Although older adults, especially those with high blood pressure, diabetes, a history of rheumatic fever, or previous heart infections, are at greater risk, valve disorders can also develop in younger people due to congenital defects or infections.
Regular health check-ups are crucial for early detection of heart valve issues, according to doctors. A heart murmur detected during an examination might indicate such problems, prompting further investigation through tests like echocardiograms, ECGs, stress tests, or CT scans. Treatment varies with the condition’s severity; mild cases might only require monitoring and lifestyle changes, whereas more severe instances could necessitate valve repair or replacement procedures, including minimally invasive treatments.