Heart Valve Disease
Heart valve disease occurs when one or more of your heart valves don't work properly. Your heart has four valves (mitral, tricuspid, pulmonary, and aortic) that open and close to direct blood flow through your heart. Valve problems can include regurgitation (leaky valve), stenosis (narrowed valve), or prolapse (bulging valve). These conditions can strain your heart and reduce blood flow, leading to various symptoms and potentially serious complications if left untreated.
Causes
- Congenital defects - Some people are born with abnormal heart valves or structures that impact valve function.
- Age-related changes - As you age, heart valves can thicken, harden, or become less flexible, particularly the mitral and aortic valves.
- Infections - Rheumatic fever, endocarditis, and other infections can damage heart valves.
- Coronary artery disease or heart attacks - These can damage the muscles that control valve function.
- High blood pressure or pulmonary hypertension - Prolonged high blood pressure can enlarge the heart and prevent valves from closing properly.
- Connective tissue disorders - Conditions like Marfan syndrome can affect heart valve structure.
Signs and Symptoms
- Heart murmur - An unusual sound heard through a stethoscope, caused by turbulent blood flow.
- Shortness of breath - Especially during activity or when lying flat.
- Chest pain - Pressure or tightness in the chest.
- Fatigue - Feeling unusually tired, weak, or having less energy.
- Swelling in ankles, feet, or abdomen - Due to fluid retention.
- Dizziness or fainting - From reduced blood flow to the brain.
- Irregular heartbeat - Palpitations or feeling like your heart is racing, fluttering, or skipping beats.
- Reduced exercise capacity - Becoming easily exhausted during physical activity.
Diagnosis
Echocardiogram
A non-invasive test that uses sound waves to create moving images of your heart, showing its size, structure, and motion, including how the valves are functioning.
Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE)
A specialized echocardiogram that provides clearer images of your heart valves by inserting a tube with a transducer down your throat into your esophagus.
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
Records your heart's electrical activity and can detect irregular heart rhythms that may be associated with valve problems.
Chest X-ray
Shows the size and shape of your heart and lungs, and can indicate fluid buildup or an enlarged heart.
Cardiac MRI
Uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of your heart and valves.
Cardiac Catheterization
An invasive procedure where a thin tube is inserted into a blood vessel and guided to your heart to measure pressures and blood flow, and to take detailed images of your heart structures.
Treatment Options
Monitoring and Lifestyle Changes
For mild valve disease, regular check-ups to monitor the condition along with heart-healthy lifestyle changes may be sufficient. This includes regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, eating a heart-healthy diet, and avoiding smoking.
Medications
While medications don't fix valve problems, they can help manage symptoms and prevent complications. These may include blood thinners to prevent clots, diuretics to reduce fluid retention, anti-arrhythmics to control heart rhythm, and medications to lower blood pressure or cholesterol.
Surgical and Transcatheter Interventions
For more severe valve disease, procedures to repair or replace the affected valve may be necessary. Options include surgical valve repair, surgical valve replacement (with mechanical or biological valves), or minimally invasive transcatheter procedures.
Home Remedies
Heart-Healthy Diet
Follow a diet low in saturated fat, trans fat, sodium, and added sugars. Focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats to support overall heart health.
Regular Physical Activity
Engage in appropriate exercise as recommended by your doctor. This helps maintain cardiovascular fitness and overall health, but the type and intensity should be tailored to your specific valve condition.
Stress Management
Practice stress-reduction techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, yoga, or tai chi to help reduce strain on your heart.
Salt Reduction
Limit sodium intake to help prevent fluid retention and reduce strain on your heart, especially if you have symptoms of heart failure.
Fluid Management
If you have symptoms of heart failure due to valve disease, your doctor may recommend limiting fluid intake to reduce strain on your heart.
Preventive Care
- Get regular check-ups and heart evaluations, especially if you have risk factors or a family history of heart valve disease.
- Maintain good dental hygiene and get regular dental care to prevent infections that could affect your heart valves.
- Seek prompt treatment for strep throat to prevent rheumatic fever, which can damage heart valves.
- Manage conditions that can lead to valve disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
- Know the signs of heart valve disease and seek medical attention if you experience symptoms.
- Follow a heart-healthy lifestyle with regular exercise, a balanced diet, and avoiding smoking.
- Take antibiotics before dental procedures if you have certain valve conditions, as recommended by your doctor.
- Adhere to your medication regimen and follow your doctor's recommendations for managing your condition.
- Consider genetic counseling if you have a family history of congenital heart defects.
- Maintain a healthy weight to reduce strain on your heart.
Surgical Options
Heart Valve Replacement
A surgical procedure where a damaged or diseased heart valve is removed and replaced with a mechanical valve or a biological tissue valve. This restores proper blood flow through the heart chambers.
Learn More About This ProcedureHeart Valve Repair
Surgical techniques to fix a damaged valve while preserving your own valve tissue. Methods include annuloplasty (tightening or reinforcing the ring around a valve), valvuloplasty (opening a narrowed valve using a balloon), or correction of valve prolapse.
Learn More About This ProcedureTranscatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
A minimally invasive procedure to replace a narrowed aortic valve without open-heart surgery. A replacement valve is inserted through a catheter in a large blood vessel and guided to the heart.
Learn More About This ProcedureSchedule a Consultation
If you're experiencing symptoms of heart valve disease, our expert team is here to help you find the right treatment approach for your specific needs.