Heart valve defect..how bad can it get?

im a 19 yrs old. as far as i can remember i started having chest pains when i was about 6 or 7.,when i was thirteen i finally had a check up the doctor said something bout my heart valve which doesn't completely close.,from what i read bout those kind of defect it said it isn't really lethal in some cases.,i don't experience it regularly..it just comes anytime i can't predict..another thing is im sensitive to drinking coffee, everytime i drink coffee il start to have difficulty in breathing, il palpitate badly or have chest pains.,is this something serious?

I don't think anybody besides your doctor can answer that for you. Valvular heart defects can range from totally benign to needing a heart transplant.

Palpitations sound like what you are describing and they are not serious. Stay away from caffeine if it makes it worse.

You should talk to your doc.It could be serious

This will become serious if you don't heed the doctors advice. Stay away from stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine and of course illegal drugs. You have to have a proper diet and exercise to keep this at bay. As long as you stay healthy your heart should be fine.

It could be serious. You should talk to your doctor about it and if possible get a special doctor, like a doctor of internal medicine or a cardiologist. Thats the best way to know for sure whats up, and what it means in your case.

It really depends on what valve is affected, do you remember if he said which valve? Also I have severe pulmonary valve insufficiency and i'm not allowed to have anything with caffiene including chocolate so you might want to rethink your coffee drinking.

It sounds like you might be talking about a mitral valve prolapse?? I have that and was diagnosed at 12. I take a beta blocker for it because my chest will hurt and heart will race during certain activities without it. I am now 30 and just had an ultrasound of my heart this year and it has actually improved since then. You should be fine since you have went this long before finding out about it (according to my Dr..that's what he told me at 12). Talk to your Dr about medication if it interferes with your daily life because it shouldn't.

it might be a heart murmur. some of them are "innocent" while others arent. talk to your doctor abiut a possible valve replacement

I was born with Aortea Stenious. Narrowing of valve. I found out when I was 3 yrs old. Then later on in life. I developed a PFO hole in my heart. And A Anursym { blood clot} in my upper chamber. I had this finally fixed at 39 years old. Pop and coffee are kinda bad for people with heart problems. It can speed up your heart and make you feel funny. I get palpations with this stuff 2. I had a pacemaker put in also. Because of 2nd degree heart block. So, take care of your heart. And report anything funny going on to your doctor. No matter how riddicklous it may seem to you. You have to be your own advicate in this medical feild. And fight for what is wrong!! I had to. also, be careful when exercising.

This Patient Guide is written for the loved ones of heart patients who are dealing with the short-term stress that comes with a test, procedure or recent diagnosis of heart disease. It explains why support is so important to a loved one with heart disease. It also offers practical strategies on how to support a loved one while also taking care of yourself.

It seems to me that you are describing mitral-valve prolaspe. Avoid anything that has caffeine, especially coffee, tea, and sodas. Caffeine will cause palpitations. I know, because I have mitral-valve prolaspe. I avoid caffeine, at all costs because I don't want to experience palpitations and a racing heart. I don't drink coffee or tea. I choose sodas that have no caffeine.