Aortic regurgitation describes a condition when the aortic valve cannot close sufficiently and blood is able to flow back from the aorta into the left heart. Minor asymptomatic forms do not need any treatment. More severe forms can be treated with medications or surgery.
Aortic regurgitation describes a condition when the aortic valve cannot close sufficiently and blood is able to flow back from the aorta into the left heart. The aortic regurgitation is mostly caused by a dysfunction of the aortic valve and rarely by an abnormality of the aorta.
The causes of aortic regurgitation include valvular dysfunctions and abnormalities of the ascending aorta. 1) Valvular dysfunction: congenital valvular disorders such as a bicuspid aortic valve cause more frequently valvular dysfunctions. But acquired causes like rheumatic fever, endocarditis, degenerative aortic valve diseases (aortic sclerosis), trauma and surgery are the most common causes of valvular dysfunctions and aortic regurgitation. 2) Aorta abnormalities: expansion of the aorta may also lead to an insufficient closure of the aortic valves and cause reverse blood flow from the aorta into the left ventricle. Therefore an aortic sclerosis, connective tissue diseases such as Marfan and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or a dissection of the aorta may also result in aortic regurgitation. Aortic regurgitation can occur either acute or chronic. Acute aortic regurgitation can manifest with the sudden appearance of significant symptoms such as pulmonary edema, cardiogenic shock and heart failure. Chronic aortic regurgitation normally happens gradually and can lead to an enlargement of the heart and end in a heart failure. The symptoms of chronic aortic regurgitation are gradually increasing shortness of breath, palpitations, pressure on the chest and loss of physical resilience.
Minor asymptomatic forms do not need any treatment but a regular check-up. Treatments of aortic regurgitation include: 1) medication: vasodilators (ACE-inhibitors) can help to improve the ejection fraction of the heart, lower the aortic pressure and reduce reverse blood flow. Antibiotics may be used if there is an endocarditis. 2) Surgical intervention in order to repair the aortic valves or the aorta will be considered in severe cases.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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