To understand heart valve disorder it is necessary to understand about the valves that are found in the heart. Learn why!
In order to understand heart valve disorder it is necessary to understand about the valves that are found in the heart. A heart has two small upper chambers called the atria and two large lower chambers called the ventricles. In each of the ventricles there are two valves. These are called the tricuspid valve, pulmonary valve, mitral valve and the aortic valve. When any of these valves malfunction due to leaking which is called valve regurgitation or failing to open which is called valve stenosis, it interferes with the ability of the heart to pump blood.
Mitral valve regurgitation occurs when there is leakage back through the mitral valve each time the left ventricle contracts. The most common cause of this disorder use to be Rheumatic fever but with the development of new antibiotics this is now rare. Today the most common cause of mitral valve regurgitation is a heart attack which has damaged the supporting structures of the mitral valve. When this condition is mild, no symptoms may be present. A doctor can usually diagnose this condition by listening to the patients heart with a stethoscope. A distinctive heart murmur can be heard when this type of damage is present. In some more serious cases there may be palpitations when the patient is lying on their left side. Atrial fibrillation may be present as well as shortness of breath, coughing, and swelling in the legs. In most cases the damaged valve will need to be repaired or replaced and drugs may be given to slow the heart rate.
Mitral valve prolapse is found in up to 5 percent of the population. Symptoms may include palpitations, chest pain, fatigue, dizziness and migraine headaches. In some cases the blood pressure may fall when the patient is standing. This disorder is caused when the valve leaflets bulge into the left atrium while the ventricle is contracting. Treatment may include beta blockers to slow the heart and help relieve other symptoms. When regurgitation is present it may be necessary to take antibiotics prior to dental or surgical procedures. Mitral valve stenosis is one heart valve disorder that in most cases results from rheumatic fever. It can also be a congenital condition found at birth that requires surgery to prolong the life of the infant. This disorder is known to occur mostly in older people who have had rheumatic fever during their childhood. Symptoms of this disorder include increases in blood pressure, shortness of breath, irregular or rapid heart beat, a plumb colored flush and bleeding in the lungs. In pregnant women with this disorder heart failure has been known to rapidly develope. After the diagnosis beta blockers, digoxin and rapamil are prescribed to slow the heart rate. When drug therapy does not relieve the symptoms valve replacement or repair surgery may be necessary.
Aortic valve regurgitation produces no symptoms other than a heart murmur. As with other heart valve disorders drug therapy may be prescribed followed by surgery to replace or repair the damaged valve. Aortic valve stenosis is mainly a disease found in the elderly or in younger people as a birth defect. Symptoms include fainting, shortness of breath and angina. In most cases surgery is required to replace the damaged valve. Tricuspid valve regurgitation has vague symptoms such as weakness or fatigue. This valve disorder rarely requires surgical repair.
