Leaky Heart Valve Symptoms
Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky
7. Edema
The heart does a pretty good job at keeping the blood flowing, especially when it is helped by gravity as it flows downwards. When it reaches the bottom of the circuit, however, it needs to start going back up again, and this can cause problems.
If the heart is not working at full efficiency then there may not be enough pressure to help it back up again. There is a system of valves that help keep the blood flow going upwards but, still, there is sometimes not enough pressure to push the blood back up again. As a result, fluids can begin to pool at the patient’s feet and ankles in a condition that is known as edema.
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