Feeling unusually tired after everyday activities like climbing stairs or carrying groceries could be more than just a sign of stress, ageing, or poor fitness. Cardiologists caution that persistent fatigue during routine tasks may indicate an underlying heart issue, particularly if the tiredness worsens over time. One possible cause of such fatigue is a heart valve disorder, where the heart’s valves become narrow, stiff, or leaky, forcing the heart to work harder to maintain blood flow. This extra effort can result in a reduced oxygen supply to muscles and organs, causing fatigue even after minimal exertion.
Common heart valve issues include aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation, which can restrict blood flow or cause it to leak backward, impairing the heart’s efficiency. Unlike regular fatigue from stress or lack of sleep, heart-related fatigue may persist after physical activity and begin to interfere with daily life. Along with fatigue, other warning signs to be mindful of include shortness of breath during light activity or while lying down, chest discomfort, dizziness, irregular heartbeat, swelling in the extremities, and fainting episodes.
Heart valve problems can often go unnoticed initially as the heart compensates by working harder, making symptoms apparent only during physical exertion. This can lead many to dismiss these signs as normal ageing or a lack of fitness. Older adults, particularly those with high blood pressure, diabetes, past heart infections, or a history of rheumatic fever, are at higher risk. However, younger individuals can also experience valve issues due to congenital defects or infections.
Doctors emphasize the importance of regular health check-ups for early detection of heart valve issues. Such problems may initially be identified through a heart murmur during a medical examination, with further tests like echocardiograms, ECGs, stress tests, or CT scans providing additional insights. The treatment for heart valve disorders varies based on the condition’s severity. While mild cases might only require monitoring and lifestyle adjustments, more severe instances could necessitate valve repair or replacement, including newer minimally invasive procedures.