What is Heart Valve Disease?
What is Heart Valve Disease?Heart valve disease, also called valvular heart disease, is a condition that prevents the valves from working correctly. It affects one of the four heart valves.
The four heart valves open and shut with each heartbeat, allowing blood to flow in one direction so that the heart pumps blood to the lungs and the rest of the body effectively. Disease or damage to a heart valve prevents it from opening or closing correctly, and as a result, the heart works harder to pump blood.
Heart valve defects may occur at birth or develop later in life because of infection or other conditions. Some people have a heart valve defect or disease without symptoms, but heart valve conditions should be treated to prevent symptoms from worsening.
Types of Heart Valve Disease
TypesTypes of heart valve disease include:
- Valve stenosis (narrowing). Stiffening of heart valves causes the valve opening to narrow and restricts blood flow to other heart parts.
- Tricuspid valve stenosis affects blood flow from the right atrium to the right ventricle.
- Pulmonary valve stenosis affects blood flow from the right ventricle to the lungs through the pulmonary artery.
- Mitral valve stenosis affects blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle.
- Aortic valve stenosis affects blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta, the main artery to the body, and the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body may be restricted.
- Regurgitation (leaking) happens when a valve does not close correctly, allowing blood to flow backward.
- Tricuspid valve regurgitation is caused when blood pumped forward from the right ventricle to the lungs leaks backward into the right atrium, and the atrium may become enlarged.
- Pulmonary valve regurgitation. When the pulmonary valve does not close entirely, blood can leak back from the lungs into the heart.
- Mitral valve regurgitation Blood leaks from the left ventricle (lower left chamber) backward into the left atrium through the mitral valve.
- Aortic valve regurgitation happens when oxygen-rich blood leaks backward from the aorta through the aortic valve back to the left ventricle.
- Valve prolapse (slipping out of place). A condition in which the valve flaps, called leaflets, are out of place or stick out. As a result, the heart valve does not close properly, and blood may leak backward through the valve, disrupting the direction of the blood flow.
- Mitral valve prolapse prevents the valve from shutting properly.
- Tricuspid, pulmonary, and aortic valve prolapse are similar to mitral valve prolapse but are less common.
- Valve atresia is a congenital disability in which a heart valve is not formed correctly. It usually requires surgeries in infancy. Adults with congenital heart valve conditions continue to be monitored and treated as needed.
- Tricuspid valve atresia is a congenital heart defect in which the tricuspid valve between the right atrium and right ventricle isn’t formed.
- Pulmonary valve atresia is a congenital heart defect of the pulmonary valve, which controls blood flow from the right ventricle through the pulmonary artery to the lungs.
- Mitral valve atresiais a rare congenital heart defect in which the heart’s mitral valve does not develop correctly.
- Aortic valve atresia is a congenital condition in which the aortic valve leaflets, the small flaps of tissue in the aortic valve, are fused at birth.
Signs & Symptoms of Heart Valve Disease
SymptomsA heart valve disease may cause no symptoms. Heart valve disease symptoms may begin over time as the condition worsens. You may experience the following symptoms:
- Heart murmur
- Chest discomfort or pain
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Palpitation - irregular heartbeat
- Dizziness or fainting
- Edema - swelling of the ankles, feet, or abdomen
What Causes Heart Valve Disease?
CausesHeart valve disease may be caused by congenital conditions (being born with it), infection, degenerative conditions progressing with age, and conditions related to other types of heart disease.
Heart valve disease causes include:
- Congenital causes
- Congenital valve heart disease can prevent the heart valves from developing correctly or prevent valve flaps (leaflets) from properly attaching to the heart.
- Marfan syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects the body’s connective tissue. People with Marfan syndrome may develop mitral valve prolapse and aortic valve regurgitation.
- Diseases and other causes
- Rheumatic fever, an inflammatory disease that can affect the heart valves if it is not treated properly
- Endocarditis, an infection of the inner lining of the heart and heart valves that is caused by a blood infection
- Heart attack
- Heart failure
- Degeneration or calcification of the valve tissue that occurs over time
- Certain medications
Risk Factors for Heart Valve Disease
Risk FactorsFactors that can increase the risk of heart valve disease include:
- Older age
- Infections that can affect the heart
- Heart attack
- Heart failure
- Conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and others
Trust NewYork-Presbyterian for Heart Valve Disease Care
NewYork-Presbyterian's team of cardiologists, heart surgeons, interventional cardiologists, and cardiac imaging experts work together to customize the best care for each patient. Our medical and surgical teams provide cardiovascular care for adults and children with heart diseases and disorders.
Our heart specialists, cardiologists, and surgeons are well-informed about innovative treatment protocols and are leaders in minimally invasive heart valve repair and replacement procedures. Contact us to make an appointment.