A leaky heart valve means blood isn’t moving correctly through one of the heart’s four valves. This can cause complications like heart rhythm disturbances and heart failure. But treatment is usually ...

During cardiac auscultation, I have the patient lean forward, take a deep breath, and forcefully exhale. The combination of maneuvers causes retractions of the chest cavity, making the heart closer to ...

In a healthy heart, blood flows in only one direction. The four valves of the heart prevent blood from flowing backward. But a leaky heart valve, or heart valve regurgitation, causes a backflow of ...