Heart Valve Disease

Blood enters and exits your heart and lungs through four different valves. These valves, which keep your blood moving in the right direction, have individual names:

• Aortic valve
• Mitral valve
• Pulmonary valve
• Tricuspid valve

Each of these valves has leaflets (tiny flaps of tissue) that open and close. Every time your heart pumps, these leaflets open to let blood flow through them. Then, they quickly shut so blood cannot flow backward in the wrong direction.

If you have heart valve disease, it means one or more of your valves are no longer working properly.

Heart valve disease may be caused by:

• Atherosclerosis (narrowing or hardening of the arteries)
• Congenital heart disease (heart problems that are present at birth)
• Endocarditis (inflammation of the lining inside the heart)
• Formation of calcium deposits around the valve
• Rheumatic fever
• Wear and tear over time 

There are different types of heart valve disease. Each is named for the type of valve affected and how it’s affected.

If a valve becomes stiff and narrow, you have what’s known as “stenosis.” With stenosis, it’s harder for blood to move through the valve.

If a valve’s leaflets don’t close all the way, you have a condition called “regurgitation” or “insufficiency.” This is a fancy way of saying you have a leaky heart valve. Some of your blood leaks backward through the faulty leaflets.

• Aortic stenosis
• Aortic regurgitation 
• Mitral stenosis 
• Mitral valve regurgitation (a condition in which blood leaks backward through the mitral valve)
• Mitral valve prolapse (a type of mitral valve regurgitation)
• Pulmonary stenosis 
• Tricuspid regurgitation

You may not have any symptoms in the early stages of heart valve disease. But as your condition worsens, you may develop:

• Chest pain, especially after physical activity
• Dizziness or fainting
• Fatigue
• Palpitations (feeling like your heart is skipping beats or pounding really hard)
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling in your abdomen
• Swollen ankles or feet  

To confirm whether you have heart valve disease, your doctor will perform (or order) the following:

• A medical history: They’ll ask questions about your symptoms, including how long you’ve had them and how they affect you. They’ll also review your family history of heart problems and your own medical history.
• Physical exam: Your doctor will listen to your heart and lungs. They’re checking for sounds that indicate a narrowed or leaky valve or fluid in your lungs. They’ll also assess different parts of your body, such as your ankles, to look for swelling.
• Diagnostic tests: They’ll order one or more tests to look for structural or functional heart valve problems. These tests may include an echocardiogram (heart ultrasound), stress test (an echocardiogram performed after you exercise) or MRI scan. 

With heart valve disease, there are some risk factors you can’t control. For example, your risk of heart valve disease increases with age—and you can’t avoid getting older.

But some risk factors are within your control.

For example, you can lower your chance of developing heart valve disease by:

• Eating a heart-healthy diet
• Exercising regularly
• Getting prompt treatment for any type of infection (certain infections can damage your heart valves if they’re not treated properly)
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Quitting smoking
• Reducing or avoiding alcohol use