Free
E-newsletter
Subscribe to Housecall
Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date
on a wide variety of health topics.
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffYou're likely to start by first seeing your family doctor. After your initial appointment, your doctor may refer you to a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of heart conditions (cardiologist).
Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.
What you can do
- Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, and for how long.
- Make a list of your key medical information, including other recent health problems you've had and the names of any prescription and over-the-counter medications you're taking.
- Find a family member or friend who can come with you to the appointment, if possible. Someone who accompanies you can help remember what the doctor says.
- Write down the questions you want to be sure to ask your doctor.
Questions to ask your doctor at your initial appointment include:
- What is likely causing my signs or symptoms?
- Are there any other possible causes for these signs or symptoms?
- What tests do I need?
- Should I see a specialist?
- Should I follow any restrictions in the time leading up to my appointment with a cardiologist?
Questions to ask if you are referred to a cardiologist include:
- What is my diagnosis?
- What treatment approach do you recommend?
- If you're recommending medications, what are the possible side effects?
- If you're recommending surgery, what procedure is most likely to be successful in my case? Why?
- If you're recommending surgery, what will my recovery be like?
- If you don't think I need immediate treatment, how will you determine the right time to treat my condition?
- How frequently will you see me for follow-up visits?
- What is my risk of long-term complications from this condition?
- Will physical activity, including sexual activity, increase my risk of complications?
- What diet and lifestyle changes should I make?
- I have these other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment.
What to expect from your doctor
A doctor who sees you for possible aortic valve regurgitation may ask:
- What are your symptoms?
- When did you first begin experiencing symptoms?
- Have your symptoms gotten worse over time?
- Do your symptoms include rapid, fluttering or pounding heartbeats?
- Have you experienced any chest pain or tightness?
- Do your symptoms include shortness of breath?
- Have you ever fainted?
- Have you ever coughed up blood?
- Does exercise or physical exertion make your symptoms worse?
- Does lying down make your symptoms worse?
- Are you aware of any history of heart problems in your family?
- Have you ever knowingly had rheumatic fever?
- Are you being treated or have you recently been treated for any other health conditions?
- Do you or did you smoke? How much?
- Do you use alcohol or caffeine? How much?
- Are you planning to become pregnant in the future?
What you can do in the meantime
While you wait for your appointment, check with your family members to find out if any close relatives have been diagnosed with cardiac disease. The symptoms of aortic valve regurgitation are similar to a number of other heart conditions, including some that tend to run in families. Knowing as much as possible about your family's health history will help your doctor determine next steps for your diagnosis and treatment.
If exercise makes your symptoms worse, avoid intense physical activity until you've been seen by your doctor.
- Aortic regurgitation. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/print_presenter.jhtml?identifier=4448. Accessed June 20, 2011.
- Rakel RE, et al. Valvular heart disease. In: Rakel RE. Textbook of Family Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier. 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4377-1160-8..10027-2--s0310&isbn=978-1-4377-1160-8&uniqId=258746827-3. Accessed June 12, 2011.
- O'Gara P, et al. Valvular heart disease. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Online. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies. 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2902425&searchStr=aortic+valve+insufficiency. Accessed June 18, 2011.
- Bashore TM, et al. Heart disease. In: McPhee SJ, et al. Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment. 50th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies. 2011. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3896&searchStr=aortic+valve+insufficiency. Accessed June 18, 2011.
- Congestive heart failure. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4585. Accessed June 20, 2011.
- How the healthy heart works. American Heart Association. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/CongenitalHeartDefects/AboutCongenitalHeartDefects/How-the-Healthy-Heart-Works_UCM_307016_Article.jsp. Accessed June 12, 2011.
- Gaasch WH. Pathophysiology and clinical features of chronic aortic regurgitation in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 20, 2011.
- Gaasch WH. Course and management of chronic aortic regurgitation in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 20, 2011.
- Your guide to a healthy heart. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/your_guide/healthyheart.pdf. Accessed June 21, 2011.
- Otto CM. Acute aortic regurgitation in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 20, 2011.
- Khawaja MZ, et al. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation for stenosed and regurgitant aortic valve bioprostheses. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2010;55:97.
- Grogan M (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. July 6, 2011.
Find Mayo Clinic on