Heart valve disease is when any heart valve does not work as it should.
The heart has four chambers and four valves. Valves between each chamber act like a door, opening and closing to let blood pass. They are made of thin, strong pieces of tissue called leaflets. The four chambers are the right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium, and left ventricle. The four valves are the aortic valve, pulmonic valve, tricuspid valve, and mitral valve.
When the heart is working properly, the valves open and close in rhythm. This allows the correct amount of blood to move through each chamber of the heart at the right time.
There are three kinds of heart valve problems. Any of these can occur in any of the four different valves. They are:
Often, heart valve disease (especially mild disease) does not cause symptoms. If the valvular disease progresses or worsens, symptoms may start. These symptoms can include:
There are several reasons why heart valve disease can occur, including:
Some things which increase the risk for developing heart valve disease include:
In many cases, heart valve disease is discovered on routine examination by a healthcare provider. The first clue is an unusual heart sound when listening to a person’s heartbeat with a stethoscope. This sound is called a murmur. Instead of the crisp “lub-dub” of the valves opening and closing, a heart murmur makes a sound like rushing water. Once a healthcare provider determines a murmur is present, they will request tests to find the reason for the murmur, such as:
Heart valve disease can cause other health problems, such as:
Treatment depends on a person’s symptoms, overall health, and how severe their valvular disease is. Options include lifestyle changes, medications, and surgery to fix the diseased valve. Some people require a complete surgical valve replacement.
Techniques to prevent heart valve disease include general techniques for a healthy heart. Healthful eating and regular exercise help keep a person’s weight in a healthy range. Quitting smoking or using illegal drugs is an instant health boost. And regular checkups with a medical provider can detect a problem early before it’s caused a lot of damage.