Valvular heart disease is a lifelong heart condition but can be treated with proper intervention. Read this article to know more about its cause, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
Valvular heart disease is a common cardiac condition that occurs when one or more of the heart valves do not function properly. This leads to blocked or improper flow of blood from the heart to the body and vice-versa as the valves don’t open or close properly. It is a degenerative and progressive disease more common in older adults. However, it can also be congenital in some cases and may be asymptotic in earlier stages with more chances of manifestation once one gets older.
Valvular heart disease is common in India owing to increased cases of blood pressure and other social-economic conditions like overcrowded dwellings, under-nutrition, higher stress levels, and limited medical care facilities. It is also one of the most neglected diseases due to poverty and the inability to afford treatment. However, it is a treatable condition and can be managed by medicines, lifestyle, awareness, or even surgery if required.
Let’s examine in detail what is a valvular heart disease, and its symptoms, cause, diagnosis, risks, and treatment.
There are four valves in our heart — mitral, tricuspid, pulmonary, and aortic valves. Each valve has flaps also known as leaflets, that close and open with every heartbeat. If one or more heart valves fail to open and close properly, then it leads to obstructed flow of blood in-between the heart and the body leading to many implications and even death if left untreated. This condition is known as valvular heart disease.
Heart valve disease can be congenital, which means it can occur due to the improper development of any of the four valves during birth time, such as the pulmonary or aortic valve. It can also happen due to several other external reasons as well like:
- Heart attack which can damage the heart valves.
- Rheumatic fever due to untreated strep throat or scarlet fever. The fever can scar the heart valves.
- Failure of either side of the heart can also lead to valvular disease
- Dilation of the aorta also known as a Thoracic aortic aneurysm can cause the stretching of the aortic valve leaflets leading to leakage and valvular disease.
- Calcification or calcium deposits on the aortic valve leading to obstruction of the blood flow.
- High blood pressure
- Bacterial infection in the heart also known as Endocarditis inflames the lining of your heart valves and chambers.
Valvular heart disease can be congenital and asymptomatic at the initial stages. But it’s progressive and degenerative leading to the manifestation of the symptoms at a much later stage of life. If left untreated it may also lead to heart failure or death. Some of the most common symptoms of the disease are:
- Shortness of breath especially during heavy physical activity or while being in the lying down position
- Irregular heartbeats or palpitations
- Dizziness, fainting, weakness, or fatigue
- Discomfort or pain in the chest or
- Swelling abdomen, ankles, and feet
- Fever especially if the disease has happened because of the infection
- Weight gain
The disease can be diagnosed either based on above symptoms or with the help of the following tests:
- There can be a sound of heart murmur when the doctor is listening to your heartbeat with a stethoscope.
- Echocardiography tests can also help in figuring out the disease. It is a method done with the help of electrodes to check the heart rhythm and the movement of the blood through the heart. Also, known as the ultrasound of the heart.
- A chest X-ray is also helpful to diagnose the disease.
- Electrocardiogram or ECG is done to record the electrical activity of your heart on graph paper.
- Magnetic resonance imaging or MRT is done to get high-quality images of your heart.
- It depends on the level of severity of the disease. If it is not too severe medications can help control the symptoms.
- However, if the valve is severely affected then you might need surgery. In some cases, there can be a need to replace the valve through open-heart surgery. Or else, the valve can also be replaced without opening the heart through minimally invasive aortic valve replacement surgery. In this, a smaller incision is used to replace the poorly working aortic valve than a traditional open repair.
- Another alternative to open-heart surgery is the ‘Interventional Aortic Valve Replacement’ or ‘Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). In this method, a thickened or blocked aortic valve is replaced to ensure better blood flow from the heart to the body.
- Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and food habits can also help you in managing the symptoms of the disease in a better way.
You might not be able to prevent the disease from happening especially if it is congenital. However, there are many factors that can lead to the development of disease. Also, if it is congenital or once you know that you are suffering from the disease there are certain ways to manage your health in a better way to ensure that it doesn’t cause further damage or risks. Some of these ways are:
- Having checked on infections and getting them treated quickly.
- Maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle and food habits.
- Keeping your weight in check.
- If you have high blood pressure or cholesterol then take medicines as prescribed by the doctor.
- Staying away from tobacco, alcohol, and drugs.
- Be regular with your check-ups and appointments.
- Last but not least getting the treatment done as prescribed by the doctor as if left untreated may lead to heart failure, blood clots, stroke, and sudden cardiac arrest.
Valvular disease is a lifelong condition. Basic knowledge about the disease and its management, a healthy lifestyle, heart-healthy food, and abstinence from tobacco and alcohol is imperative to reduce the morbidity caused due to the disease. Timely and appropriate diagnosis, management and required treatment and medications, and regular follow-ups can make it manageable for the patients.
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