PCCN Valvular Heart Disease

PCCN Valvular Heart Disease

In heart valve disease, one or more of the valves in your heart doesn’t work properly.

Your heart has four valves that keep blood flowing in the correct direction. In some cases, one or more of the valves don’t open or close properly. This can cause the blood flow through your heart to your body to be disrupted.

Your heart valve disease treatment depends on the heart valve affected and the type and severity of the valve disease. Sometimes heart valve disease requires surgery to repair or replace the heart valve.

Signs and Symptoms

Some people with heart valve disease might not experience symptoms for many years. Signs and symptoms of heart valve disease may include:

• Abnormal sound (heart murmur) when a doctor is listening to the heart beating with a stethoscope
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath, particularly when you have been very active or when you lie down
• Swelling of your ankles and feet
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Irregular heartbeat

Causes

Your heart has four valves that keep blood flowing in the correct direction. These valves include the mitral valve, tricuspid valve, pulmonary valve and aortic valve. Each valve has flaps (leaflets or cusps) that open and close once during each heartbeat. Sometimes, the valves don’t open or close properly, disrupting the blood flow through your heart to your body.

Heart valve disease may be present at birth (congenital). It can also occur in adults due to many causes and conditions, such as infections and other heart conditions.

Heart valve problems may include: 

• Regurgitation
• Stenosis
• Atresia

Risk Factors

Several factors can increase your risk of heart valve disease, including:
Older age

• History of certain infections that can affect the heart
• History of certain forms of heart disease or heart attack
• High blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and other heart disease risk factors
• Heart conditions present at birth (congenital heart disease)

Complications

Heart valve disease can cause many complications, including:

• Heart failure
• Stroke
• Blood clots
• Heart rhythm abnormalities
• Death

Treatment

Heart valve disease treatment depends on how severe your condition is, if you’re experiencing signs and symptoms, and if your condition is getting worse.