Valvular Heart Disease

Chest | Cardiology | Valvular Heart Disease (Disease)


Description

Heart valve disease occurs when your hearts valves do not work the way they should. Valvular heart disease is any disease process involving one or more of the valves of the heart (the aortic and mitral valves on the left and the pulmonary and tricuspid valves on the right). Valve problems may be congenital (inborn) or acquired (due to another cause later in life).

Causes and Risk factors

There are many causes of diseases of your heart valves. Four valves within your heart keep blood flowing in the right direction. A person may be born with valvular disease, or the valves may be damaged by such conditions as rheumatic fever, infections (infectious endocarditis), connective tissue disorders, and certain medications or radiation treatments for cancer.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Treatment may be with medication but often (depending on the severity) involves valve repair or replacement (insertion of an artificial heart valve). Specific situations include those where additional demands are made on the circulation, such as in pregnancy. ...