The human heart's four valves ensure efficient, directional blood flow. Malfunctioning valves can disrupt this process known as heart valve disease.
The human heart has four valves, each playing an essential role in ensuring that blood is pumped efficiently and in the correct direction throughout the body.
If one or more of the heart valves don't open or close properly, it can mess up how blood flows between the heart and the rest of the body. This is known as heart valve disease.
Atresia: Occurs when a natural body passage is closed or missing, due to a birth defect.
Regurgitation: Occurs when a valve leaks, allowing blood to flow backward due to incomplete closure.
Stenosis: Occurs when a valve narrows, obstructing blood flow and forcing the heart to pump more forcefully.
Tricuspid regurgitation: Occurs when the tricuspid valve doesn't close properly, causing blood to flow backward into the atrium. This forces the heart to work harder and can worsen over time.
Some individuals are born with congenital heart valve disease, which may occur alone or alongside other congenital heart defects. Additionally, heart valve disease can develop over time, especially as people age or experience other heart conditions.
If you develop heart valve disease, INTEGRIS Health offers top-notch care using advanced technologies. Our specialists at INTEGRIS Health Heart Hospital deliver highly successful outcomes with the latest minimally invasive robotic and laparoscopic procedures.
Mild valve disease often goes undiagnosed and untreated due to a lack of symptoms. However, once severe and symptomatic, it can be life-threatening. Symptoms include:
Your doctor may perform a physical exam and listen for a heart murmur to check for a heart valve condition. Diagnostic tests and related heart assessments include:
Medication can alleviate symptoms but won't cure the valve issue. Open-heart surgery can repair or replace the valve, usually alongside another heart valve procedure.
Your doctor will decide how to treat your heart valve disease based on your symptoms, how serious the condition is and how it is progressing.
