What Is Valvular Heart Disease? (And How Is It Treated?)

The human heart is a complex organ that performs the essential task of moving blood throughout the body. It includes four hollow chambers, a double-layered protective membrane, nerves, and four valves.

Your heart’s valves ensure that blood flows in only one direction and work to prevent backflow and accumulation of blood within the heart’s chambers. When a problem develops in one or more of your heart valves, it’s called valvular heart disease or heart valve disease.

The specialists at Heart and Vascular Care have extensive training and experience in all aspects of heart health, including heart valve disease. Today. We’re here to share some insight into the different types of heart valve disease and how Plano, Texas, residents can find treatment.

There are four primary types of heart valve disease

Valvular disease can be narrowed down into four distinct types. Each type can affect one or more of your heart’s valves.

Atresia

This is a congenital condition in which the heart valve opening fails to form properly before birth. A sheet of tissue blocks the blood’s ability to flow between two chambers. The pulmonary valve is the most likely location of this type of heart valve problem.

Prolapse

This occurs when the leaflets that make up the mitral valve are abnormally stretchy or “floppy.” This causes the mitral valve to move back into your left atrium during heartbeats. This type of prolapse doesn’t always cause problems, but in some people it can lead to regurgitation.

Regurgitation

This condition, also known as a “leaky valve,” develops when the leaflets of a valve don’t close fully, allowing blood to leak backward. Regurgitation forces your heart to work harder to compensate for the blood that flows backward.

Stenosis

Stenosis occurs when the leaflets of your heart valves stiffen, narrowing the valve opening and limiting the volume of blood that can flow through. If the valve continues to narrow, your heart can experience strain as it works harder to reach sufficient blood flow.

While many cases of heart valve disease don’t cause serious health problems, others can be fatal. Understanding your risk level requires working with a cardiologist to determine the extent of your heart valve issues.

What are some signs I might have valvular heart disease?

It’s common for there to be no clear symptoms in the early stages of heart valve disease. As the condition progresses, you might experience one or more of the following:

Shortness of breath
Heart palpitations (skipped heartbeats)
Edema (swelling in your abdomen, ankles, or feet)
Chest pain
Rapid weight gain
Dizziness or weakness

Fatigue is often the first sign of heart valve disease. If you find yourself feeling sapped of energy with no apparent cause, seeing a medical provider is important.

What are some treatment options for valvular heart disease?

The practitioners at Heart and Vascular Care specialize in all types of surgical cardiology interventions. But we are also dedicated to taking a conservative approach whenever possible.

If you have heart valve disease, your treatment plan is shaped by several factors, including your age, overall health, medical history, and the severity of the valve damage. In some cases, modifying your lifestyle choices can dramatically improve your heart valve condition.

Enhancing nutrition, staying active, moving toward a healthy weight, and getting enough high-quality rest are all important, as is avoiding stress. Some medications can help manage valvular heart disease. In some cases, surgery is the best way to repair a damaged heart valve and restore normal function.

If you’re concerned about your heart health, a diagnostic work-up is the best way to proceed. You can reach our offices in Plano or McKinney, Texas, by phone, or you can use our online booking service if you prefer.