Valve Disorders

What are valve disorders?

Valve disorders can affect any of the heart’s valves. Your heart has four valves with flaps that open and close every time your heart beats. This enables blood to flow through the heart’s upper chambers (atria) and lower chambers (ventricles), then into the rest of your body.

The four valves are the tricuspid, pulmonary, mitral, and aortic valves. They work by ensuring blood flows in the right direction through your heart and preventing it from leaking or backing up.

Heart valve disorders occur when a valve can’t function properly. This might be due to stenosis (narrowing of the valve opening) or regurgitation (leakage of blood). Or you might have both regurgitation and stenosis.

What valve disorders might affect me?

There are several kinds of heart valve disorders, including:

Mitral valve prolapse

A mitral valve prolapse occurs when the valve can’t close properly, which can cause blood to flow back into your left atrium.

Bicuspid aortic valve disease

Bicuspid aortic valve disease is a birth abnormality where the aortic valve only has two flaps when it should have three. Some people go undiagnosed for years because the valve can still function.

Valvular stenosis

Valvular stenosis happens if a valve gets thicker or stiffer, so not enough blood flows through your heart.

Valvular regurgitation

Valvular regurgitation or leaky valves occur when the valves don’t close properly, which lets blood flow backward.

What symptoms do heart valve disorders cause?

Some people don’t get any symptoms from their heart valve disorder. However, if the condition is affecting blood flow through your heart, you might experience:

• Shortness of breath
• Palpitations
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Chronic fatigue
• Lightheadedness
• Chest pain
• Headaches
• A cough
• Swollen legs (edema)

Heart valve disorders can lead to complications like fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), strokes, and heart attacks.

What does treatment for heart valve disorders entail?

Treatment depends on the severity of your valve disorder and the effects it’s having on you. Very often, your cardiologist at Nader Cardiology can address the problem using conservative treatments. You’ll need to quit smoking, follow a healthy diet, lose weight if you’re overweight or obese, and undergo regular checkups.

Several medications can help with valve disorders. Beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers regulate blood flow and heart rate. Diuretics reduce fluid retention, and vasodilators open (dilate) the blood vessels.

Your cardiologist might need to perform an interventional cardiology procedure called valvuloplasty to treat stenosis. During the procedure, your cardiologist uses a tiny balloon to increase the size of the valve’s opening.

To find out if you have a valve disorder and get prompt, effective treatment, call Nader Cardiology today or book an appointment online.