The principle artery that leaves your heart is the aorta. Blood leaves your heart by going from you left ventricle (lower chamber) through your aortic valve into your aorta. Aortic valve regurgitation is a disease in which your aortic valve does not close as tightly as it should. This results in some of the blood leaking back into your heart’s left ventricle that was just pumped out of it.

Because of aortic valve regurgitation, your heart may not be able to efficiently pump out blood to the rest of your body. This can result in you feeling breathless and tired.

Aortic valve regurgitation is also known by other names. It is also referred to as aortic regurgitation and aortic insufficiency or aortic incompetence.

Aortic valve regurgitation can come on suddenly. If it does, it requires immediate medical attention. When it does, it is referred to as acute aortic valve regurgitation.

There are several things that may cause chronic aortic valve regurgitation. These include:

• Rheumatic fever
• Infective endocarditis (infection in your heart)
• Congenital heart defects
• Advancing Age
• Dilation of your aortic root (enlarged aorta)
• Treatment for cancer using radiation
• Use of the diet medicine fen-phen.

Other things can cause acute aortic valve regurgitation. These include:

• Difficulties associated with aortic valve replacement
• Dissection of the aorta
• Trauma to your chest
• An infection of the heart called endocarditis.

Most of the time, however, this disease develops gradually causing no signs or symptoms. You may not even realize that you have this condition. Signs and symptoms will usually begin as the disease progresses. Some of the signs and symptoms that you may have are:

• Irregular or rapid pulse rate
• Chest discomfort, tightness or pain (angina) that usually increases during exercise
• Fainting
• Fatigue and weakness that worsens when your activity level increases or you exercise
• Swollen feet and ankles
• Shortness of breath when you lie flat or exert yourself
• Problems with breathing at night
• Palpitations (feelings of a rapid, fluttering heartbeat)
• Lightheadedness and dizziness
• Pulsations in your neck.

You or a loved one may be suffering from aortic valve regurgitation. This disease and/or complications arising from or along with it may be why you are disabled and not able to work. It may be why you or your loved one needs financial help.

Have you or your loved one applied for Social Security disability benefits or disability benefits from the Social Security Administration because of the disability caused by aortic valve regurgitation and/or complications resulting from or along with it? Were you or your loved one denied?

If you decide to appeal the denial by the Social Security Administration, think about this. People who are represented by a disability attorney like the one at socialsecurityhome.com are approved more often than people who are without representation.

Please do not wait. Contact the disability attorney at socialsecurityhome.com, today.