What are diseases affecting the heart’s valves?

Valvular heart disease arises from damage to the heart’s valves. The heart consists of four valves that maintain the steady flow of blood. Sometimes, when valves do not open or close entirely, the entire process of blood flow is disrupted.

What are the signs?

• Heart murmurs when doctors hear a whooshing sound through the stethoscope
• Chest tightness
• Bloating
• Lethargy
• Swollen ankles and feet
• Arrhythmia

What causes the condition?

Heart valve disease can occur due to stenosis, regurgitation when the flaps do not close securely and atresia when tissue obstructs blood flow to the heart’s chambers. Several factors increase the risk of heart valve diseases, such as age, infections, high cholesterol, hypertension, and congenital heart disease.

How do you diagnose valvular heart disease?

The several methods used to diagnose valvular heart disease include:

• Echocardiography utilises a wand-like instrument, a transducer, to create images of the heart.
• An electrocardiogram utilises pads held by wires fixed onto the chest to measure the heart's electrical pulses. An ECG diagnoses enlarged heart chambers, cardiovascular disease and irregular heart rhythms.
• Exercise/stress test places the heart muscle under stress and measures the muscle’s response to the stress-induced activity.
• Cardiac catheterisation is a means of diagnosing valvular heart disease when all other methods fail to diagnose the condition.

What does treatment involve?

You can manage valvular heart disease and prevent further health decline by making healthy lifestyle choices and taking medications (blood thinners, etc.) as prescribed. However, surgical repair involves sealing holes in the valves, separating conjoined valve leaflets, removing valve tissue and repairing or replacing the cords of the valves. However, if there is no possible way of repairing or replacing components of the valve, Dr Hassen can replace the entire valve using a biologically-produced or mechanical valve.

Even after valve replacement surgery, it is critical that you continue taking medication prescribed by your doctor, follow a healthy diet, and exercise daily.