Heart Valve Disease Types, Causes and Symptoms

Table of Contents

Heart Valve Disease refers to the medical condition in which the valves of the heart are dysfunctional or defected. Valves are the gatekeepers of the blood flow and pumping action of the heart. A human heart contains 4 valves that are positioned in different locations of the blood entry and exit points in the heart.

As the heart contracts or relaxes the heart muscles move in a typical motion to push the oxygenated and deoxygenated blood out towards the body tissues and lungs respectively and the heart receives the oxygenated blood and deoxygenated blood from lungs and the body tissues, respectively. This process of receiving and pushing out the blood is organised in such a way that it does not mix within the heart, normally. This process is maintained on the right track by the opening and closing of these valves. However, if these valves get some defects or are slow in their functioning, it leads to mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood or deposition of blood at a particular point. These circumstances lead to problems which are termed as heart valve diseases.

What is Heart Valve Disease

Heart Valve Disease occurs when the valves of the heart get dysfunctional. Valves are the gatekeepers of the blood flow and pumping action of the heart. A human heart contains 4 valves that are positioned in different locations of the blood entry and exit points in the heart. The process of receiving and pushing out the blood is organised in such a way that it does not mix within the heart, normally. This process is maintained on the right track by the opening and closing of these valves. However, if these valves get some defects or are slow in their functioning, it leads to mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood or deposition of blood at a particular point. These circumstances lead to problems which are termed as heart valve diseases.

Types of Heart Valve Disease

Heart valve disease are of three types:

1. Regurgitation
2. Stenosis
3. Atresia

All these types of heart valve disease vary according to the type of valve affected and the extent of affection.

Types of valves:

1. Pulmonary valve
2. Tricuspid valve
3. Aortic valves
4. Mitral valve

Causes of Heart Valve Disease

Heart Valve Disease is caused when the valves of the heart get dysfunctional due to various reasons, which include,

1. Viral infections in blood or heart muscle
2. Metabolic syndromes
3. Different heart conditions
4. Congenital problem

How is Heart Valve Disease Developed

Heart valve disease is developed due to medical problems in the heart. A human heart contains 4 valves that are positioned in different locations of the blood entry and exit points in the heart. The process of receiving and pushing out the blood is organised in such a way that it does not mix within the heart, normally. This process is maintained on the right track by the opening and closing of these valves. However, if these valves get some defects or are slow in their functioning, it leads to mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood or deposition of blood at a particular point. These circumstances lead to problems which are termed as heart valve diseases.

Symptoms Of Heart Valve Disease

Heart Valve Disease is observed through the following symptoms;

1. Shortness of breath
2. Abdominal swelling
3. Murmuring sound in stethoscope (an unusual sound other than lub dub sound of the heart)
4. Chest pain
5. Uncomfortable breathing during exercises and sleep
6. Swelling in lower limbs
7. Fainting or dizziness that persists

Diagnosis of Heart Valve Disease

Heart Valve Disease is detected through physical examination, by listening to the irregular heartbeat through stethoscope and unusual noise in the stethoscope. Other ways for examining the heart diseases and defects include ECG, echocardiography, MRI of the heart, stress tests, catheterization in heart, X- ray for chest.

Diagnostic methods:

1. ECG
2. Echocardiography
3. MRI of the heart
4. Stress tests
5. Catheterization in heart
6. X- ray for chest

Do’s For Heart Valve Disease

Heart valve disease is managed through lifestyle interventions and medications:

1. Manage to include physical exercises in your routine
2. Remember to stay calm
3. Maintain a normal blood pressure
4. Low salt diet
5. Low fat diet
6. Avoid trans fats and processed foods
7. Maintain healthy heart diet

Don’t For Heart Valve Disease

Heart Valve Disease is managed by avoiding the following things,

1. Manage to include physical exercises in your routine
2. Remember to avoid stress
3. Avoid things that can elevate your blood pressure
4. Avoid salt food
5. AVoid fatty foods especially trans fats
6. Avoid processed foods
7. Maintain healthy heart diet

Treatments to Manage Heart Valve Disease

Heart valve disease patients need to get the defected valve repaired or replaced through surgery. In other surgery cases or heart infections also the surgeons are bound to replace or repair the dysfunctional valve, if they find the valve is also infected along with other myocardial tissues.

Non Surgical Treatment

1. TAVR- Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement
2. TMVR- Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement
3. TPVR- Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement
4. MVR- Mitral Valve Replacement

Surgical Treatment

Heart Valve Disease is hard to treat with medications, most cases the doctors recommend surgeries to repair or replace the heart valve if it is damaged and creating complications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is heart valve disease serious?

Yes, heart valve disease is a serious condition, it can lead to sudden death or heart failure.

What is the most common heart valve disease?

Aortic valve regurgitation is the condition in which the valve is leaky and could not properly close and thus pose problems.

Is heart valve disease curable?

Yes, heart valve disease is curable but with replacement or repair of the damaged heart valve.

What are signs of heart valve problems?

Heart Valve Disease is observed through the following signs;

1. Shortness of breath
2. Abdominal swelling
3. Murmuring sound in stethoscope (an unusual sound other than lub dub sound of the heart)
4. Chest pain
5. Uncomfortable breathing during exercises and sleep
6. Swelling in lower limbs
7. Fainting or dizziness that persists

Is heart valve surgery high risk?

Yes, it is risky if left untreated it could lead to a plethora of complications and diseases.

Can an ECG detect valve problems?

Yes, an ECG detects valve problems. Heart Valve Disease is detected through physical examination, by listening to the irregular heartbeat through stethoscope and unusual noise in the stethoscope. Other ways for examining the heart diseases and defects include ECG, echocardiography, MRI of the heart, stress tests, catheterization in heart, X- ray for chest.

Can a heart valve be repaired without surgery?

Yes, a heart valve can be repaired without surgery, using minimally invasive procedures. This procedure is medically called Transcatheter aortic valve replacement which involves a catheter to correct the defected valve problem.

How do you treat heart valve disease?

What 3 things can you do to avoid heart valve disease?

1. Include physical exercises in your routine
2. Remember to stay calm and maintain a normal blood pressure
3. Low salt diet

How do you repair heart valves naturally?

1. Include Fish Oil to your diet
2. Have a controlled Weight
3. Decrease Salt Intake
4. Low salt diet
5. Enough Sleep

Can a heart valve be repaired?

What are the Types of heart Valve Disease?

Heart valve disease are of three types:

1. Regurgitation
2. Stenosis
3. Atresia

All these types of heart valve disease vary according to the type of valve affected and the extent of affection.

What are the different types of valves:

1. Pulmonary valve
2. Tricuspid valve
3. Aortic valves
4. Mitral valve

What are the diagnostic methods to detect heart valve disease?

Diagnostic methods:

1. ECG
2. Echocardiography
3. MRI of the heart
4. Stress tests
5. Catheterization in heart
6. X- ray for chest

How is heart valve disease managed?

Heart valve disease is managed through lifestyle interventions and medications:

1. Manage to include physical exercises in your routine
2. Remember to stay calm
3. Maintain a normal blood pressure
4. Low salt diet
5. Low fat diet
6. Avoid trans fats and processed foods
7. Maintain healthy heart diet

What precautions should be taken in case of Heart Valve Disease?

Heart Valve Disease is managed by avoiding the following things,

1. Manage to include physical exercises in your routine
2. Remember to avoid stress
3. Avoid things that can elevate your blood pressure
4. Avoid salt food
5. AVoid fatty foods especially trans fats
6. Avoid processed foods
7. Maintain healthy heart diet

What are the non surgical treatment options for heart valve disease?

NON SURGICAL TREATMENTS FOR HEART VALVE DISEASE

1. TAVR- Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement
2. TMVR- Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement
3. TPVR- Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement
4. MVR- Mitral Valve Replacement

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Everything You Need to Know About Heart Valve Disease