What are the Symptoms of Heart Valve Problems?

What is Heart Valve Disease?

If one or more of the valves in your heart doesn’t function adequately to make proper circulation is called heart valve disease. This disease can affect the quality of life and disrupt blood flow through your heart to the body. If not looked after, this disease can be life-threatening.

The treatment of heart valve disease depends upon the severity and type of the disease. It can be repaired or replaced surgically depending on the requirement of treatment, allowing you to return to everyday life.

Types of Heart Valve Disease:

Mitral Valve Disease

In this disease, the mitral valve doesn’t close properly and causes blood to flow back into the left atrium. The tissues of the valves become stretchy and abnormal, which leads to leakage of the valve.

It’s difficult to find symptoms of this disease in people, so there is no need for any treatment. However, some cases might require surgery or replacement.

Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease

This valve disease occurs due to two aortic flaps instead of the three aortic valves. Without the third leaflet, the valve may be stiff or leaky.

In a few cases, the symptoms of this type of disorder might be present at birth. However, some people may function for an extended period without knowing they have this disorder.

Valvular Stenosis

Valvular stenosis occurs when a valve cannot open completely due to stiffening and thickening of the heart valve, which makes the heart function hard to pump blood through it. This problem can occur in any heart valve and might lead to heart failure.

Valvuloplasty, using a balloon to dilate the valve, might be prescribed by your doctor to treat valvular stenosis.

Valvular Regurgitation

It is also called incompetence or leaky valve. It occurs when a valve does not close tightly, due to which some blood will leak backward, making it harder for the heart to work correctly, and less blood may flow.

The effects of valvular regurgitation may vary from person to person. Some people might need proper care and attention and need to be monitored, while others might get cured by medications, and a few cases need valve repair or replacement.

People suffering from heart valve disease might not have any symptoms for a long time. However, when symptoms occur, they might include:

Shortness of breath or troubled breathing: You may find difficulty breathing while doing any regular or daily activities or lying down.

Weakness or dizziness: You might feel weakness in carrying out your daily tasks or activities. Dizziness can also occur sometimes.

Discomfort in your chest: You can feel pressure or weight in your chest while doing any work

Palpitations: It might feel like a rapid heart rhythm, irregular heartbeat, or skipped beats.

Swelling in feet or abdomen: It is called edema. Swelling in your belly might make you feel bloated.

Dr. HK Bali is the best cardiologist in Chandigarh. Make an immediate appointment with him for a reliable diagnosis and treatment for any heart-related disease.