Heart valve disease, or valvular heart disease, is an umbrella term for when one, or more, of the heart’s valves are diseased or damaged meaning that they are not working properly to pump blood around the heart and the rest of the body.
A normal heart has four major valves, the mitral valve, tricuspid valve, aortic valve, and the pulmonary valve. They open and close with every heartbeat to allow blood to flow through the heart in the right direction.
When any of these valves are damaged or diseased, the heart has to work harder to pump blood and heart valve disease can stop blood flowing correctly around the body.
There are different types of heart valve disease and any of the valves can be affected, however commonly the aortic or mitral valves become diseased.
If left untreated, heart valve disease can lead to heart failure, and even death.
It is possible for the heart to be affected by more than just one type of valve disease at the same time and multiple valves can be affected.
It is possible for there to be no signs or symptoms in mild cases of heart valve disease.
Signs and symptoms of heart valve disease can include:
Heart valve disease can have a number of causes. It can be that one or more of the heart’s valves did not develop properly and the condition is present from birth (congenital). Or it can be caused by degenerative change, infections, or other heart conditions later in life.
Some of the most common causes of heart valve disease are:
This is when a heart valve or valves don’t form properly, leading to structural abnormalities.
Leaflets are the flaps on a valve that open and close when the heart beats, sometimes heart valves do not develop all their leaflets. Of this type of birth defect, the most common is a Bicuspid Aortic Valve, where the aortic valve develops with only two leaflets instead of three.
Other types of heart disease that can then lead to valve disease are:
Heart valve disease can be caused by other infections, some of these include:
Aging can cause number of complications in the heart that may lead to heart valve disease. These include:
It is important to have regular heart checks, as one of the most common ways heart valve disease is diagnosed is by a doctor listening to the heart through a stethoscope. They are listening for a heart murmur, often one of the first signs of heart valve disease, which in most cases can only be heard using a stethoscope.
Other methods of diagnosis your doctor may want to perform are:
The treatment for heart valve disease will vary depending on the cause of the heart valve disease and how much it is affecting the heart’s ability to function properly.
Available treatments include:
With advancements in transcatheter technology and advanced echocardiographic imaging, minimally invasive therapies are increasingly able to be used to treat heart valve disease.
Heart valve disease can potentially be life-threatening, but it is important to remember that regular heart checks will help with early diagnosis while the disease is mild, making it easier to treat.
It is also important to know and monitor the risk factors that can contribute to or worsen heart valve disease, and where possible, make lifestyle changes that reduce your risk.
Common risk factors that can cause or worsen valve diseases include:
By exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, and maintaining a healthy weight, many of these risk factors can be reduced. If you develop any symptoms of heart valve disease, seeing your doctor can help identify heart valve disease early.
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