Often, when people feel fatigued after climbing stairs, walking short distances, or carrying groceries, they attribute it to stress, ageing, lack of sleep, or poor fitness. However, cardiologists caution that persistent or worsening fatigue during everyday activities could be a sign of a heart condition. One such condition is a heart valve disorder, where the heart’s valves, which regulate blood flow, become narrowed, stiff, or leaky. This dysfunction forces the heart to work harder, potentially diminishing the oxygen supply to muscles and organs, thereby causing ongoing tiredness even with minimal exertion.
Heart valve issues such as aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation are examples where blood flow is either restricted or leaks backward, impairing the heart’s performance. Unlike fatigue due to stress or inadequate sleep, which tends to improve with rest, fatigue from heart valve problems may persist after physical activity and gradually disrupt daily life. Symptoms that may accompany this type of fatigue include shortness of breath during light activity or when lying down, chest discomfort, dizziness, irregular heartbeat, swelling in the lower extremities, and fainting episodes.
Specialists note that heart valve disorders often remain undetected in their early stages, as the heart compensates by exerting more effort. Consequently, symptoms become noticeable mainly during physical activity, leading many to misinterpret them as signs of ageing or poor fitness. While older adults face higher risks of valve disorders, particularly those with high blood pressure, diabetes, or a history of rheumatic fever, younger individuals can also be affected due to congenital defects or infections.
Regular health check-ups play a crucial role in the early detection of heart valve issues. Sometimes, these problems are first indicated by a heart murmur during a physical examination, prompting further tests like echocardiograms, ECGs, stress tests, or CT scans. The treatment for heart valve disorders varies based on severity; mild cases might only need monitoring and lifestyle adjustments, whereas more severe conditions could require valve repair or replacement procedures, with options of newer minimally invasive treatments available.