Heart valve disease is characterized by the malfunction of one or more cardiovascular systems. The four valves in your heart ensure that blood flows in the correct direction throughout your body. One or more of the valves may not open or close properly in some instances. The disease of the heart valves causes improper functioning of a single or several of the heart’s valves. The four valves of your heart regulate blood flow and ensure it is going to the right places. It is possible for a valve, or multiple valves, to become stuck in open or closed positions. This can interrupt the regular pumping of the heart and result in decreased blood flow to the body. The nature and extent of your cardiac disease will determine the course of treatment. The operation to fix or replace a damaged heart valve is sometimes necessary when dealing with heart valve disease. Best cardiologist in Brooklyn can help you be diagnosed and treated for heart valve problems. Heart Doctor Brooklyn can arrange an ECG and other diagnostic procedures to detect and ward off this condition.
In some cases, this might make it more difficult for the heart to pump blood throughout the body. If you have a heart valve disease, your treatment will depend on the type and severity of the disease that has affected your valve. Surgery to repair or replace a diseased heart valve may be necessary in some cases.
Symptoms
There may be years between the onset of symptoms in some patients with heart valve disease.
- A whooshing sound (heart murmur) when a doctor is listening to the heart with a stethoscope
- With advanced tricuspid regurgitation, you’ll notice abdominal swelling, fatigue, shortness of breath, swelling of your ankles and feet, dizziness, fainting, and irregular heartbeat.
Heart valve problems include:
- Regurgitation
Blood leaks backward in the heart because the valve flaps don’t seal properly. Prolapse, in which the flaps of a valve bulge backward, is a common cause of this problem.
- Stenosis
Thickness or stiffness develops in the valve flaps, and they may even begin to fuse. A smaller valve opening means less blood can pass through it.
- Atresia
Since the valve hasn’t developed, a thick layer of tissue sits in the opening between the heart’s chambers, preventing blood from flowing freely.
How many distinct forms of heart valve illness are there?
The heart valve illness comes in a variety of forms, and it is not uncommon for several valves to be damaged.
Insufficiency of the valve movement (valvular stenosis)
Valvular stenosis occurs when the leaflets of a valve grow stiffer due to a thickening of the tissues that make them up. This causes the valve opening to become smaller and the blood flows through it to be restricted. A mild constriction may not have any effect on the capacity of the heart to carry blood. However, if the valve narrows too much (stenotic), it might impair the capacity of the heart to carry blood and lead to increased work for the heart’s pumping muscles. Consequently, your organs and tissues may not receive adequate blood supply.
Heart disease caused by inadequate valve function
When leaflets don’t seal all the way, blood might seep back across the valve, a condition known as valvular insufficiency (also called regurgitation, incompetence, or “leaky valve”). Regurgitant flow is the term used to describe this type of backward movement. If your heart has to struggle to make up for blood flowing backward, it may be able to supply as much blood to your extremities as usual.
Valvular Atresia
When the valve of the heart doesn’t develop normally before birth, the result is valvular atresia. A child with this condition will likely have an early infant diagnosis.
Prolapse of the mitral valve
It is a frequent condition that occurs when the valve flaps protrude back into the left atrium during cardiac contraction which can cause a reverse flow.
Risk factors
There are a variety of potential causes of heart artery disease.
- When one of the numerous possible infections affecting the heart develops.
- History of cardiovascular sickness or a heart attack
- Risk factors for cardiovascular disease include hypertension, excessive cholesterol, and diabetes.
- Heart defects known as congenital exist at birth
Medications
There may be no need for regular medication in mild cases. In order to alleviate symptoms or prevent complications, some medicines may be prescribed.
- ACE inhibitors, which inhibit the enzyme that converts angiotensin to norepinephrine, help to lessen the workload on the heart. Those with heart failure may be prescribed one.
- A diuretic, or water tablet, can be helpful in cases of breathlessness. More urine is produced as a result of this. Because of the heart’s constant back pressure, excess blood and fluid can accumulate in various parts of your body, such as your lungs.
- It’s possible to treat atrial fibrillation with a variety of medications. Among them are beta blockers, calcium-channel blockers, and digoxin, which is used to treat heart disease. Atrial fibrillation can occur as a complication in some patients who undergo cardioversion, a procedure in which the heart is shocked with an electrical current.
- If you develop atrial fibrillation, your doctor will likely prescribe anticoagulant medication. Blood clots can be prevented by this.
Doral Health and Wellness can help
If you experience any of these symptoms of heart valve dysfunction, it is important to consult with your Cardiologist about the best course of therapy. You should always talk to your doctor before making any dietary changes that could affect your heart health. Heart Specialist Brooklyn has the education and experience to provide precise diagnoses, review medical records, and design individualized treatment strategies for each of their patients. Throughout the consultation and therapy, they engage in conversation with the patient and their loved ones. Doral
Health & Wellness is highly recommended due to its excellent track record in providing medical, surgical, and cardiovascular care. Brooklyn, New York 11212 is home to Doral Health & Wellness, which can be accessed at 1797 Pitkin Avenue. Give us a ring at 1-347-384-5690 or check out our website at https://cardiologistbrooklyn.com/ to schedule an appointment.