Heart valve disease – Symptoms and Causes

Heart valve disease – Symptoms and Causes

Heart valve disease is a condition in which one or more valves of the heart don’t work properly. It is one of the major causes of heart failure. If left untreated, it cause complications such as heart failure, stroke, blood clots, and heart rhythm abnormalities.

The heart has four valves: a mitral valve, aortic valve, tricuspid valve, and pulmonary valve. These valves have flaps that open and close during each heartbeat and prevent the backward flow of blood. 

How do the heart valves work?

The heart valves are critical in the functioning of the heart. The mitral valve and the tricuspid valve regulate the flow of blood from the upper chambers to the lower chambers of the heart. The aortic valve and pulmonary valve regulate the blood flow from the lower chambers of the heart to the respective organs. 

Types of heart valve diseases:

Valve stenosis: The valve becomes narrowed resulting in a decrease in the amount of blood flowing through the valve. If the narrowing is severe i.e. stenosis, it makes the heart unable to pump the blood effectively.  

Valve regurgitation: When valves do not close tightly, blood flows backward leading to the condition called regurgitation. It can occur along with stenosis.

Valve prolapse: In prolapse, the leaflets of the valve bulge like a parachute during the heart’s contraction.  

Atresia: In this condition, valves are improperly formed or missing and a solid tissue blocks the blood flow between the chambers.

Symptoms of heart valve disease:

Many heart valve diseases are identified by the murmur sound or abnormal sound when listening to the heartbeat with a stethoscope.

Other symptoms of heart valve disease are: 

• Shortness of breath 
• Dizziness
• Chest pain
• Palpitations
• Weakness 
• Swelling of the feet

Causes of heart valve disease:

Heart valve disease can be congenital (present during birth) or acquired. The causes of heart valve disease are:

• Increasing age
• Presence of infections that affect the heart
• History of heart disease or heart attack 
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes