This is the diagnosis my doctor just gave me after two echos. She said it is minimal but to keep it that way I need to eat no salt.

I'm having trouble finding any information on this so would appreciate if anyone knows anything about it to fill me in.

Hi, I have mild to moderate regurgitation in the mitral, tricuspid and pulmonic valves and moderate to severe in the aortic valve. I was not told to limit salt intake at this time but have been tried on several meds to try to keep the heart from enlarging.

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Hi.
It means that 2 of your valves are leaky - i.e. incompetence or regurgitation. But if it's mild, depending where you are you may just need follow-up. I'm sure most healthy people have some degree of regurgitation in the mitral/tricuspid valves.
I'm not sure about the reason for the salt though - how is your blood pressure?
Best wishes.

I have had several cardiologist to tell me that a large percentage of the population have "trace" mitral and tricuspid regurgitation, so I wouldn't worry about that. As for the "no salt" to prevent increasing regurgitation, I don't see the connection. Some people, especially doctors are "anti-salt" police, lol, even though some of us are not "salt sensitive". Many do become salt sensitive later on in life and it increases their BP and causes fluid retention.

Too much salt actually burns the cells whereby they scream for fluid. They get and retain it from the blood stream.

I am salt sensitive and am on a strick low sodium diet due to the condition of my heart and mainly fluid retention. I dislike having to take the potent diuretics like Lasix, because you have to supplement with massive doses of potassium, and some side effects such as hearing loss.

Anyone that has edema or fluid retention should lose the salt. The fluid that is retained in the tissue makes it harder on your heart to pump blood through it.

Certain heart medicines cause fluid retention in myself and others, such as the older calcium channel blockers (CCBs). I wish that I could remember what the name of the CCB was. I was switched to a different CCB, Norvasc, a slow acting CCB and it has not caused any edema in me. I take it for Diastolic Dysfunction, along with many other meds.

Goldy, lose the salt :)

Hey Huck, you the self imposed salt police? LOL I have never been a salt person, however, I do cook with chicken and beef bullion instead of the greasy fats. I learned to do this several years ago as I had a partner with ulcers, so I have been bland for years now. I have tried butter buds and the low sodium salts if I have to have a little spice in my diet. A salad just isn't without a little salt or pepper. I prefer to use spices rather than enhance taste by some harmful means, using garlic and basil and onion powder rather than shake a salt shaker. If anyone has any other low sodium or spice hints, would be appreciated.

I remember the constant repitition of the warning that everywhere sodium goes, water follows. So it makes sense that swelling will be worse with sodium intake. My greatest offender would be soft drinks, I am sure. I try for the caffeine free types, but they are loaded with sodium. I guess that is one more restriction I should self impose. Sounds like a good New Year's resolution to me.

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Thanks for the reply. It was actually a nurse practitioner that told me not to eat salt. I was wondering about it though because I am addicted to salt but I do have low to normal blood pressure and cholesterol.