Overview

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.

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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

When to see a doctor

If you have a heart murmur, your doctor may recommend you visit a cardiologist. If you develop any symptoms that may suggest heart valve disease, see your doctor.

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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. In this condition, the valve flaps don't close properly, causing blood to leak backward in your heart. This commonly occurs due to valve flaps bulging back, a condition called prolapse.
• Stenosis. In valve stenosis, the valve flaps become thick or stiff, and they may fuse together. This results in a narrowed valve opening and reduced blood flow through the valve.
• Atresia. In this condition, the valve isn't formed, and a solid sheet of tissue blocks the blood flow between the heart chambers.

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Diagnosis

Your doctor may evaluate your signs and symptoms and conduct a physical examination. In a physical examination, your doctor will likely listen for a heart murmur, as this can be a sign of a heart valve condition. Your doctor may order several tests to diagnose your condition.

Tests may include:

• Echocardiography. In this test, sound waves directed at your heart from a wandlike device (transducer) held on your chest produce video images of your heart in motion. This test assesses the structure of your heart, the heart valves and the blood flow through your heart. An echocardiogram helps your doctor get a close look at the heart valves and how well they're working. Doctors may also use a 3-D echocardiogram.

  Doctors may conduct another type of echocardiogram called a transesophageal echocardiogram. In this test, a small transducer attached to the end of a tube is inserted down the tube leading from your mouth to your stomach (esophagus). This test allows doctors to have a closer look at the heart valves than is possible with a regular echocardiogram.

• Electrocardiogram (ECG). In this test, wires (electrodes) attached to pads on your skin measure electrical impulses from your heart. An ECG can detect enlarged chambers of your heart, heart disease and abnormal heart rhythms.
• Chest X-ray. A chest X-ray can help your doctor to determine whether the heart is enlarged, which can indicate certain types of heart valve disease. A chest X-ray can also help doctors determine the condition of your lungs.
• Cardiac MRI. A cardiac MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of your heart. This test may be used to determine the severity of your condition and assess the size and function of your lower heart chambers (ventricles).
• Exercise tests or stress tests. Different exercise tests help measure your activity tolerance and monitor your heart's response to physical exertion. If you are unable to exercise, medications to mimic the effect of exercise on your heart may be used.

• Cardiac catheterization. This test isn't often used to diagnose heart valve disease, but it may be used if other tests aren't able to diagnose the condition or to determine its severity.

  In this procedure, a doctor threads a thin tube (catheter) through a blood vessel in your arm or groin to an artery in your heart and injects dye through the catheter to make the artery visible on an X-ray. This provides your doctor with a detailed picture of your heart arteries and how your heart functions. It can also measure the pressure inside the heart chambers.

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Complications

Heart valve disease can cause many complications, including:

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

Lifestyle and home remedies

You'll have regular follow-up appointments with your doctor to monitor your condition.

Your doctor may suggest you incorporate several heart-healthy lifestyle changes into your life, including:

• Eating a heart-healthy diet. Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, low-fat or fat-free dairy products, poultry, fish and whole grains. Avoid saturated and trans fat, and excess salt and sugar.
• Maintaining a healthy weight. Aim to keep a healthy weight. If you're overweight or obese, your doctor may recommend losing weight.
• Getting regular physical activity. Aim to include about 30 minutes of physical activity, such as brisk walks, into your daily fitness routine.
• Managing stress. Find ways to help manage your stress, such as through relaxation activities, meditation, physical activity, and spending time with family and friends.
• Avoiding tobacco. If you smoke, quit. Ask your doctor about resources to help you quit smoking. Joining a support group may be helpful.

For women with heart valve disease, it's important to talk with your doctor before you become pregnant. Your doctor can discuss with you which medications you can safely take, and whether you may need a procedure to treat your valve condition prior to pregnancy.

You'll likely require close monitoring by your doctor during pregnancy. Doctors may recommend women with severe valve conditions avoid pregnancy to reduce the risk of complications.

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Coping and support

If you have heart valve disease, here are some steps that may help you cope:

• Take medications as prescribed. Take your medications as directed by your doctor.
• Get support. Having support from your family and friends can help you cope with your condition. Ask your doctor about support groups that may be helpful.
• Stay active. It's a good idea to stay physically active. Your doctor may give you recommendations about how much and what type of exercise is appropriate for you.

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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)

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com