Ex-Empress Michiko diagnosed with heart valve abnormalities

Former Empress Michiko has been diagnosed with heart valve abnormalities, the Imperial Household Agency said Monday.The 84-year-old former empress, who retired from official duties along with her husband former Emperor Akihito, who abdicated at the end of April, will have follow-up observations, with doctors calling for reducing the burden on her heart in daily life.Abnormalities were found in the atrioventricular valves that normally function to prevent backflow of blood in a heart, the agency said.The valves have been found not to close sufficiently but her symptoms are relatively mild, i…READ FULL ARTICLE