Heart valve diseases

Heart valve diseases are a group of cardiovascular diseases that affect the function of the heart valves. These diseases can affect any of the four valves (the mitral valve, tricuspid valve, pulmonary valve, and aortic valve) that regulate blood flow through the heart.

Types of Heart Valve Diseases

There are several types of heart valve diseases, including:

• Valvular stenosis: This occurs when a heart valve doesn't open fully due to stiff or fused leaflets. The narrowed opening may reduce the amount of blood the heart can pump to the body.

• Valvular insufficiency: Also known as regurgitation, incompetence or "leaky valve", this occurs when a valve does not close tightly. If the valves do not seal, some blood will leak backwards across the valve.

• Valve prolapse: This occurs when the leaflets of the heart valve bulge or prolapse back into the upper chamber, causing blood to flow backward through them.

Symptoms

Symptoms of heart valve disease can include shortness of breath, weakness or dizziness, discomfort in your chest, palpitations, swelling of your ankles, feet or abdomen, and rapid weight gain.

Diagnosis

Heart valve diseases are typically diagnosed through a combination of medical history, physical examination, and medical imaging tests such as echocardiography, cardiac MRI, or cardiac catheterization.

Treatment

Treatment for heart valve diseases depends on the severity and type of disease. Options can include medication, valvuloplasty, heart valve repair, or heart valve replacement.

See Also

• Cardiology
• Cardiovascular disease
• Heart disease
• Rheumatic heart disease