DEAR DR. GOTT: When I was in my teens, I played a lot of sports, and my father (who was rather overprotective) was worried about heart murmurs. I got my heart tested and was diagnosed with pulmonary regurgitation. Can you tell me anything about this? All I remember is my doctor telling me that there is nothing to worry about.
DEAR READER: Pulmonary regurgitation is a condition in which the valve that separates the right ventricle from the pulmonary artery (which leads to the lungs for re-oxygenation) malfunctions, allowing some blood to flow back into the heart. This can occur because of a malformation of the valve or because it simply doesn’t close all the way. It is also known as pulmonary insufficiency and can be trivial, mild, moderate or severe.
[Read more...]