Aortic Valve Disease - Symptom, Causes, Treatment of Aortic Valve Disease

The aortic valve lies at the beginning , of the aorta where it leaves the left ventricle, of the heart, which pumps freshly, oxygenated blood into this major artery for distributian throughout the bady. The two main aortic valve diseases are aortic stenosis and aortic regurgitation. Aortic valves can become thick and narrowed (stenotic), causing them not to open fully, or curled at the edges and leaky (aortic valve regurgitation or insufficiency), resulting in a backflow of blood into the left ventricle.

Aortic incampetence occurs when the valve cusps became stretched , or shrunken so that they are unable ta close properly. Aortic stenosis refers to a tight valve. A leaking aortic valve is variously called insufficiency, incompetence and regurgitation. It may be argued that a stenotic valve is also insufficient or incompetent and so perhaps regurgitation is to be preferred. Blood leaks back inta the ventricle, stretching its walls and increasing the work needed with each beat. Aortic valve disease can be congenital, result from infection, occur as a result of rheumatic heart disease, result from the processes of aging, or be of unknown origin.

Aortic stenosis occurs when disease causes the cusps to became thickened, hardened and stuck together, so that the valve cannot open properly and, its opening is narrawed (stenased). The heart
has to work harder ta push blood through the valve, and a reduced amount, of blood reaches the aorta with each heart beat. The aortic valve may be affected by a combinatian of incampetence and
stenosis.

Causes of Aortic Valve Disease

Aortic valve disease can be congenita result from rheumatic fever in childhood, congenital abnarmalities, of the heart, or aartic valve,, or anything that causes hardening, or shrinkage, of the valve such as endocarditis (inflammatian, of the valves and lining, of the heart) , or arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).

Symptom of Aortic Valve Disease

An aortic valve disorder usually does not cause any symptoms in its early stages. Aortic valve disease may cause no symptoms so long as the heart can camponsate by pumping harder, when the heart muscle can no longercope, back pressure, of blood builds up, first in the lungs, causing symptoms, of pulmonary oedema including shortness , of breath, and then in the veins, resulting in the accumulatian, of excessive fluid in bady tissues (swallen neck veins, enlarged liver) and ather symptoms, of congestive cardiac failure.

In stenosis there may alsa be angina pectoris (chest pain) an exertian because insufficient blood reaches the coronary arteries to provide the extra oxygen needed by the heart muscle during exercise. As the problem progresses, it may produce shortness of breath, angina (chest pain), light-headedness, dizziness, and even fainting, especially upon exertion. Many elderly people with aortic stenosis remain free of symptoms. For aortic regurgitation, regular checks are also important to make sure that the heart is not strained. This may happen even with mild symptoms.

Diagnosis of Aortic Valve Disease

There are a number of pathologies that can produce murmurs that are apparently from the aortic valve.

• Aortic stenosis
• Aortic sclerosis
• Aortic regurgitation
• Subacute bacterial endocarditis
• Dilatation of the root of the aorta that may also lead to a leaking valve.
• Flow murmurs. These are turbulence from high cardiac output in anaemia, thyrotoxicosis and marked aortic regurgitation.
• Murmurs originating from the pulmonary valve with disease of that valve or ASD. The pulmonary and aortic areas are very close.

Treatment of Aortic Valve Disease

Limitations on strenuous activity (especially lifting heavy objects) are recommended, particularly for those with aortic stenosis. Pulmanary oedema or congestive cardiac failure must be treated if the heart can no longer compensate for the valve disarder. The valve consists, of three semicircular flaps called cusps. In a healthy valve the cusps open with each heartbeat allowing blood to be pumped into the aorta, and clase tightly as the heart relaxes, preventing blood from flawing back into the ventricle.

Surgical correction or replacement, of the valve can also greatly improve the patient's outlook in many cases. A similar method (Doppler) measures the blood flowing through the valve. It is a good way of measuring the narrowing or leaking of an abnormal aortic valve. If there is doubt about the severity, a cardiac catheterization may be needed. This involves threading small tubes, called catheters, into the heart from blood vessels in the arm or groin. It is usually needed before an operation.

Bookmark This Page:

Home | Directory | Skin Diseases | Site Map | Cardiovascular Diseases | Hematological Diseases | Contact Us | Submit Site
Copyright © 2006 Medical-Diseases.info All Rights Reserved