What is Heart Valve Disease?

Heart valve disease in general is when the left side of one's heart fails. In rare cases, heart valve disease can infect the right side of the heart instead. Left-sided heart failure can directly lead to a buildup of lung fluid (pulmonary edema). Right sided heart failure causes fluid buildup in the legs, liver, and abdomen.

Two common causes of heart valve disease are narrow heart valves and leaking heart valves. Narrowed valves are often a birth defect, but they can be brought on by hardened arteries, the development of large calcium deposits, and rheumatic fever. A leaking valve is often caused by inflammation from infection, enlargement of the heart or aorta, or a mitral valve prolapse (where the mitral valve protrudes backwards too much, allowing blood to leak backward).

In most cases, heart valve disease does not have any overt, easily identifiable symptoms. If diagnosed with a minor form of heart valve disease you should seek antibiotic treatment when there is a danger of infection making its way into the blood stream. Even major heart valve disease, despite the stress it puts on the heart, may not produce overt symptoms. Physical strain; dizziness and fainting spells are all symptoms that generally reveal themselves during or after any sort of exertion. Sudden shortness of breath or chest pain could also be signs of heart valve disease.

How do doctors diagnose heart valve disease if it is so hard to detect? Stethoscope examinations to the chest can disclose abnormal heart sounds and very often alert doctors to the fact that something is out of place. However, the seriousness of the condition, as well as the exact origin of it must be diagnosed by more intricate measures.

Stethoscope examinations to the chest revealing abnormal heart sounds often alert doctors to the fact that something is out of place, however, the seriousness of the condition, as well as the exact nature of it, must be diagnosed by more complex measures. An ultrasound test can pinpoint many heart problems, including the various symptoms of heart valve disease. In more extreme cases, a patient might be examined with a cardiac catheter, where a camera is guided into the heart through the arteries. Doctors might also inject a special dye that is visible on x-ray in order to assess leaky valves.

A simple ultrasound test can pinpoint many heart problems, including the various symptoms of heart valve disease. In more acute cases, the patient might be examined with a cardiac catheter. This is a process where a camera is guided into the heart through the arteries. Doctors might also inject a special dye that is visible on x-ray in order to evaluate leaky valves.

If a patient is diagnosed with a serious heart valve disease, expect that they will go through preventative antibiotic treatments, and since leaking heart valves are heart valve disease symptoms themselves are treated with diuretics, which help the body shed excess salt and fluid.

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