Valvular Heart Disease: Definition, Causes & Symptoms

DEFINITION:

Valvular heart disease is characterised by damage to or defect in one of the four heart valves which are the mitral, aortic, tricuspid or pulmonary.

           

            The mitral (bicuspid) and tricuspid valves control the flow of blood between the atria and the ventricles (the upper and lower chambers of the heart). The pulmonary valve controls the flow of blood from the heart to the lungs, and the aortic valve governs the blood flow between the heart and the aorta, thereby the blood vessels to the rest of the body. The mitral and aortic valves (left heart diseases) are the ones most frequently affected by valvular heart disease.

            Normally functioning valves ensure that blood flows with proper force in the proper direction at the proper time. In vulvular heart disease, the valves become too narrow and hardened (stenotic) to open fully, or are unable to close completely (incompetent).

            A stenotic valve forces blood to back up in the adjacent heart chamber, while an incompetent valve allows blood to leak back into the chamber it previously exited. To compensate for the poor pumping action, the heart muscle enlarges and thickens, thereby losing elasticity and efficiency. In addition, in some cases, blood pooling in the chambers of the heart has a greater tendency to clot, increasing the risk of stroke or pulmonary embolism (blockage of an artery in the lungs).

            The severity of vulvular heart disease varies. In mild cases there may be no symptoms, while in advanced cases, valvular heart disease may lead to congestive heart failure and other complications. Treatment depends upon the extent of the disease.

CAUSES:

           There are many different types of valves disease; some types can be present at birth (congenital), while others may be acquired later in life.

-          Heart valve tissue may degenerate with age.

-          Rheumatic fever may cause valvular heart disease.

-          Bacterial endocarditis, an infection of the inner lining of the heart muscle and heart valves (endocardium), is a cause of valvular heart disease.

-          High blood pressure and atherosclerosis may damage the aortic valve.

-          A heart attack may damage the muscles that control the heart valves.

-          Other disoders such as carcinoid tumors, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, or syphilis may damage one or more heart valves.

-          Methysergide, a medication used to treat migraine headaches, and some diet drugs may promote valvular heart disease.

-          Radiation therapy (used to treat cancer) may be associated with valvular heart disease.

SYMPTOMS:

            Valve disease symptoms can occur suddenly, depending upon how quickly the disease develops. If it advances slowly, then your heart may adjust and you may not notice the onset of any symptoms easily. Additionally, the severity of the symptoms does not necessarily correlate to the severity of the valve disease. That is, you could have no symptoms at all, but have severe valve disease. Conversely, severe symptoms could arise from even a small valve leak.

            Many of the symptoms are similar to those associated with congestive heart failure, such as shortness of breath and wheezing after limited physical exertion and swelling of the feet, ankles, hands or abdomen (edema). Other symptoms include:

-          Palpitations, chest pain (may be mild).

-          Fatigue.

-          Dizziness or fainting (with aortic stenosis).

-          Fever (with bacterial endocarditis).

-          Rapid weight gain.