What's a Leaky Heart Valve?

The heart has four valves that open and close when the heart beats. They control blood flow through the four chambers of the heart so that blood goes in only one direction. But a valve may not close properly and lets blood through. That's called a leaky heart valve, heart valve regurgitation or valve insufficiency.

How long can someone live with a leaky heart valve?

O'HAIR: Researchers have discovered that most individuals with a mild leak in the valve are still alive five years after diagnosis. However, for those with a severe leak that goes untreated, survival drops way off, hovering around 60 percent surviving at five years.

Can a leaky heart valve repair itself?

Unfortunately, heart valves do not tend to heal themselves. It is true that some infants born with heart murmurs will eventually grow out of the murmur as the heart matures.