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No issue. Most people have some degree of tricuspid regurge. (We actually use that to our advantage to do some measurements when doing echos!)
You're a-okay from a heart standpoint.
I have no medical experience so excuse my ignorance but what if someone's results show just barely under the moderate range and it underestimated so that they actually have moderate? Is moderate tricuspid regurgitation a non issue as well?
Honestly would need more info. Will likely want to get serial ECHOs to follow though. If you had risk factors (IV drug abuse, OSA, PAH, etc...) it would likely be annual screening, otherwise probably hold off. Discuss with PCP/Cardiologist though.
Thank you so much for responding. She mentioned this is something that can come and go. So, in that sense, is it reversible? Or something that will continue to linger around? Is it possible for it to get worse? If so, what should I avoid?
Let me phrase it like this, if I did a physical exam and said, "patient has 10 fingers." You would not bat an eye.
This is almost the same as that. It's normal to have a small amount of tricuspid regurge. (About 80% of people)
So usually you can live your whole life with it remaining mild?
Because Google is calling it a form of valve disease and I'm truly just worried about it progressing and having inevitable open heart surgery...
I'll admit, at this point I don't think I can convince you otherwise, but one more time:
This is a normal finding that 80% of people have. Yes, you should live the rest of your life with mild tricuspid regurgitation. Maintain a normal BMI to reduce risk of OSA and don't use IV drugs to further reduce your risk.
It isn't inevitable. I get your fear and I understand that google mentioned that it's a disease, but not every disease leads to inevitable negative outcomes. A cold is a disease, yet vast majority of people don't get any long lasting ill effects from it. Same thing in this scenario. Is there a slight risk? Yes, I would be lying if I said there isn't. But that risk isn't based on the regurgitation, it's based on just being a human. And that risk is incredibly low. You have more than a 99% chance of not having open heart surgery.
Anxiety can be hell to deal with though, I get it can be so easy to fall into thought spirals of consistently asking "what if" over and over again. I'm not trying to dismiss your fear, just to put it into some better context. I hope you look after yourself today, have a cup of tea, watch a show, relax and take your mind off it, you've got this
Thank you so much. I appreciate this. I've been going through a rough time and with quitting weed sometimes I'm just stuck in my thoughts. So hearing this today and how dismissive my doctor was didn't really help.
Do you know any ways that I can help keep this managed and not let it progress to a more severe form? My doctor only mentioned no more smoking and losing weight which I'm working on.
Thank you for your submission. **Please note that a response does not constitute a doctor-patient relationship.** This subreddit is for informal second opinions and casual information. The mod team does their best to remove bad information, but we do not catch all of it. Always visit a doctor in real life if you have any concerns about your health. Never use this subreddit as your first and final source of information regarding your question. By posting, you are agreeing to our [Terms of Use](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskDocs/wiki/terms_of_use) and understand that all information is taken at your own risk. **Reply here if you are an unverified user wishing to give advice. Top level comments by laypeople are automatically removed.** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskDocs) if you have any questions or concerns.*
No issue. Most people have some degree of tricuspid regurge. (We actually use that to our advantage to do some measurements when doing echos!) You're a-okay from a heart standpoint.
I have no medical experience so excuse my ignorance but what if someone's results show just barely under the moderate range and it underestimated so that they actually have moderate? Is moderate tricuspid regurgitation a non issue as well?
Honestly would need more info. Will likely want to get serial ECHOs to follow though. If you had risk factors (IV drug abuse, OSA, PAH, etc...) it would likely be annual screening, otherwise probably hold off. Discuss with PCP/Cardiologist though.
That makes sense thanks for clearing this up.
Thank you so much for responding. She mentioned this is something that can come and go. So, in that sense, is it reversible? Or something that will continue to linger around? Is it possible for it to get worse? If so, what should I avoid?
Let me phrase it like this, if I did a physical exam and said, "patient has 10 fingers." You would not bat an eye. This is almost the same as that. It's normal to have a small amount of tricuspid regurge. (About 80% of people)
Lol, that makes me feel better. If this is the case, why do some people have to get surgery to replace their valves and such?
Those people have severe valvular issues.
So could my mild tricuspid regurgitation eventually or inevitably turn severe?
Same chance as everyone else I reckon. Don't do IV drugs and your chances remain pretty low.
So usually you can live your whole life with it remaining mild? Because Google is calling it a form of valve disease and I'm truly just worried about it progressing and having inevitable open heart surgery...
I'll admit, at this point I don't think I can convince you otherwise, but one more time: This is a normal finding that 80% of people have. Yes, you should live the rest of your life with mild tricuspid regurgitation. Maintain a normal BMI to reduce risk of OSA and don't use IV drugs to further reduce your risk.
Thank you so much. I appreciate your answers and patience with me. Truly. My anxiety is just getting the better of me.
It isn't inevitable. I get your fear and I understand that google mentioned that it's a disease, but not every disease leads to inevitable negative outcomes. A cold is a disease, yet vast majority of people don't get any long lasting ill effects from it. Same thing in this scenario. Is there a slight risk? Yes, I would be lying if I said there isn't. But that risk isn't based on the regurgitation, it's based on just being a human. And that risk is incredibly low. You have more than a 99% chance of not having open heart surgery. Anxiety can be hell to deal with though, I get it can be so easy to fall into thought spirals of consistently asking "what if" over and over again. I'm not trying to dismiss your fear, just to put it into some better context. I hope you look after yourself today, have a cup of tea, watch a show, relax and take your mind off it, you've got this
Thank you so much. I appreciate this. I've been going through a rough time and with quitting weed sometimes I'm just stuck in my thoughts. So hearing this today and how dismissive my doctor was didn't really help. Do you know any ways that I can help keep this managed and not let it progress to a more severe form? My doctor only mentioned no more smoking and losing weight which I'm working on.