Heart valve disease is a common yet often underdiagnosed condition in India, particularly among older adults, with many patients remaining symptom-free until the disease progresses. It can result from rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart defects, infective endocarditis, or age-related valve degeneration.
Tavishi Dogra is a Deputy Chief Content Producer, Health & Wellness, at Hindustan Times. She joined Hindustan Times to simplify wellness subjects by cutting through jargon. She has over 9 years of experience writing about fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, translating medical research and expert insights into practical advice readers can trust. Career journey and experience Tavishi began her health journalism journey in 2017, and has since reported for RSTV, Financial Express, Jagran, HT Media Labs and Zee.
Education and professional background Tavishi holds a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and began her career reporting on public affairs for broadcast. Editorial Philosophy I write with one single goal: To simplify health in a world full of noise by finding what’s actually doable, safe, and evidence-based for my readers. I test claims against research and user experiences. If left untreated, severe TR can significantly impair quality of life and may progress to complications such as heart failure, liver and kidney dysfunction, and ultimately death. People often ignore fatigue, breathlessness, reduced stamina, and swelling until they start affecting daily life. Limited awareness and the need for an echocardiogram to confirm the diagnosis further delay detection. By this time, the disease may have already progressed. TR symptoms are often gradual but should not be ignored. Common signs include poor appetite and progressive weight loss during routine activities, swelling in the legs or ankles, and reduced exercise tolerance. Some patients may also experience a fluttering heartbeat or a pounding sensation in the neck caused by changes in blood flow. When these symptoms persist or worsen, particularly in individuals with existing heart disease or pulmonary hypertension, they should prompt a medical evaluation rather than being dismissed as part of aging. TR occurs when the tricuspid valve between the right atrium and right ventricle doesn’t close properly, allowing blood to leak back into the right atrium. It often results from changes in the heart’s structure or function rather than a defect in the valve itself. For severe, symptomatic TR, treatment may involve surgical valve repair or replacement, or minimally invasive transcatheter therapies like TriClip or TTVR for patients at high surgical risk. Early diagnosis and timely intervention can relieve symptoms, improve quality of life, and reduce the risk of heart failure progression. ( Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.)
When all else fails, I speak to the expert who sees 50 patients a day, not the one with the most followers.
“As the disease progresses, it puts increasing strain on the heart, causing symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, swelling in the legs or abdomen, and reduced ability to do everyday activities,” Dr Sumanto Mukhopadhyay, Senior Consultant and Interventional Cardiologist at Apollo Multispeciality Hospital, Kolkata, tells Health Shots . TR is often called a “silent” heart valve disease because its symptoms develop gradually and are frequently mistaken for aging or other common conditions. “Mild cases may require only regular monitoring, but medications such as diuretics can help manage symptoms,” the doctor says.
Those early years in policy and TV shaped how she writes today: fast, factual, and human-first.
Subject expertise With 9+ years tracking India’s health conversations, Tavishi knows the gap between clinical advice and daily life. She knows fads from fundamentals and curates science-backed, expert-recommended solutions. In fitness, she breaks down bodyweight training, recovery, and posture fixes for desk-bound readers. In nutrition, she translates guidelines into affordable, desi meal tweaks. In mental well-being, she focuses on stigma-free, actionable tools — all backed by research, expert input, and lived context.
From decoding health trends and interviewing doctors to testing fitness routines herself, Tavishi always approaches content with one filter: “Will this help someone make a better decision today?
