Heart Failure Support Group

Heart failure is a condition that can result from any structural or functional cardiac disorder that impairs the ability of the heart to fill with or pump a sufficient amount of blood throughout the body. It is often undiagnosed due to a lack of a universally agreed definition and difficulties in diagnosis, particularly when the condition is considered "mild."

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jbelar 01/26/2012

I was recently given my echocardiogram results and the two things that stand out are:

Mild tricuspid regurgitation
Trace mirtal regurgitation

I have researched both and the trace mitral seems common as the test is extremely sensitive so not too many people will have a "perfect" reading but I don't seem to get the same feeling when I read up on mild tricuspid regurgitation.

Can anyone comment on this?

jrueda 01/26/2012

I will not worry too much. Anyway the echo was ordered by a cardiologist so what symptoms do you have to visit him?
What does he says about the echo results?
How your BP is?
Depending of you age and if you have no symptoms, I think there is nothing to worry.

Jesus

jbelar 01/26/2012

I was experiencing palps and tightness and since I had just been diagnosed with a genetic disorder called hemochromatosis, they wanted to be safe knowing my heart wasn't affected by that. I am relatively young, 34. My BP is good. I do realize the palps could have been caused by the stress and anxiety i had been going through. I had an exercise stress test, EKG and echo and everything turned out excellent except for the two results I reported above. My doc was vague about it when I asked her what they meant. She said it has the possibility of turning into something but nothing to worry about for a long time (decades). The echo was ordered by my general pract. I didn't get a chance to speak to a cardiologist.

deleted_user 01/26/2012

If you are concerned, you can always consult a cardiologist but trace amounts of regurgitation are really not a serious concern for you at this time. I think what your doctor meant was that sometimes regurgitation can worsen (especially as one ages) but this is not always the case. If regurgitation worsens enough to become moderate or severe, a person will usually (but not always) experience symptoms such as shortness of breath and /or higher blood pressure readings.

The best thing you can do for yourself at this point is to not worry excessively about it. If you notice new or changing or worsening cardiac conditions, always see a doctor. But based on what you've said about your echo, it doesn't seem like you have any significant cardiac issues at present.

deleted_user 01/26/2012

HI Hun

Since you are so young- you would be well advised to get a copy of the echo report for your files.

Echo's are even more significant in the long term. The comparison of one echo with a previous echo is significant to determine what is really going on. You can request the report from the hospital where the test was takedn or from your current doctor's office.

hugs

jbelar 01/26/2012

Thank you. I have a copy of the report. With a reading like that is it common to repeat the echo every 3 years or something? I will ask my doctor this as well.

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