Necessary Steps for Heart Valve Disease

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What is this Condition?

In heart valve disease, three types of mechanical disruption can occur: stenosis (narrowing) of the valve opening, incomplete valve closure (insufficiency), or valve prolapse (the valve slips from its normal position). These disruptions can result from such disorders as endocarditis (infection of the inner lining of the heart muscle), congenital defects, and inflammation, and they can lead to heart failure.

Heart valve disease occurs in varying forms:

Mitral insufficiency: In this form, blood from the left ventricle flows back into the left atrium during the heart's contraction phase, causing the atrium to enlarge to accommodate the backflow. As a result, the left ventricle expands to accommodate the increased volume of blood from the atrium and to compensate for diminishing cardiac output. This eventually leads to ventricular failure.

Mitral stenosis: Narrowing of the valve by valvular abnormalities, fibrosis, or calcification blocks blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle. Consequently, left atrial volume and pressure rise and the chamber dilates. Greater resistance to blood flow causes pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular failure .

Mitral valve prolapse: One or both valve leaflets protrude into the left atrium. Mitral valve prolapse is the term used when anatomic prolapse is accompanied by symptoms unrelated to the valve abnormality.

Aortic insufficiency: Blood flows back into the left ventricle during the heart's relaxation phase, causing fluid overload in the ventricle, which enlarges. Excess fluids overload the left atrium and, finally, the pulmonary system. Left ventricular failure and pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs) eventually result.

Aortic stenosis: Increased left ventricular pressure tries to overcome the resistance of the narrowed valve opening. The added workload increases the demand for oxygen, while diminished cardiac output reduces coronary artery perfusion and causes left ventricular failure.

Pulmonic insufficiency: Blood ejected during the heart's contraction phase flows back into the right ventricle during the heart's relaxation phase, causing fluid overload in the ventricle and, finally, right ventricular failure.

Pulmonic stenosis: Blocked right ventricular outflow causes the right ventricle to enlarge, eventually resulting in right ventricular failure.

Tricuspid insufficiency: Blood flows back into the right atrium during the heart's contraction phase, decreasing blood flow to the lungs and the left side of the heart. Fluid overload can eventually lead to right ventricular failure.

Tricuspid stenosis: Blocked blood flow from the right atrium to the right ventricle causes the right atrium to enlarge. Eventually, this leads to right ventricular failure.

What are its Symptoms?

Signs and symptoms depend on which valve is affected. For example, a person with mitral stenosis may experience shortness of breath upon exertion and while sleeping, weakness, fatigue, irregular heartbeats, and a chronic, nonproductive cough. A person with aortic insufficiency (also called aortic regurgitation) may experience shortness of breath upon exertion and when sleeping, night sweats, cough, fatigue, and anginal pain that mayor may not be relieved by nitroglycerin.

If a heart valve disease leads to heart failure, the person will experience the signs and symptoms of heart failure.

How is it Diagnosed?

To establish a diagnosis of heart valve disease, the doctor will explore the person's health history and perform a physical exam. If a valve problem is suspected, diagnostic tests, including catheterization of the heart, chest X-ray, echocardiography (ultrasound of the heart), and electrocardiography, may help the doctor pinpoint the disorder.

How is it Treated?

Treatment depends on the nature and severity of the symptoms. For example, heart failure requires Lanoxin, diuretics, a salt-restricted diet and, in severe cases, oxygen. Other measures may include bloodthinning drugs to prevent blood clot formation around diseased or replaced valves, antibiotics before and after surgery or dental care, and valvuloplasty.

If the person has severe signs and symptoms that can't be managed medically, open-heart surgery for valve replacement is indicated.

Information about the Author: Robert Baird writes about various herbal and home remedies for www.health-care-tips.org. Learn about how herbal medicines are helpful in your daily day to day lifestyle. Home Remedies Articles: http://www.article-buzz.com

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