As you get older, you may begin to notice changes to the way your body feels and functions. Often, these changes are a normal part of ageing, but sometimes they are a sign of an underlying health condition, like aortic stenosis.

Facts About Valvular Heart Disease?

• 4% of adults aged 65 years suffer with valvular heart disease, a figure that rises close to 10% of 75 year-olds
• It is estimated that close to 100,000 Australians have severe Aortic Stenosis, a figure rapidly rising with an ageing population
• Undiagnosed and untreated, severe forms of heart valve disease can have worse outcomes compared to common advanced cancers

What are the Symptoms of Valvular Heart Disease?

Heart Valve Disease can develop quickly or over a longer period. When valve disease develops more slowly, there may be no symptoms until the condition is quite advanced. Common symptoms of advancing valvular heart disease include

• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Fatigue
• Dizziness or fainting
• Palpitations

What is Valvular Heart Disease?

Valvular Heart Disease is when any valve in the heart has damage or is diseased

• The normal heart has four chambers and four valves
• The valves open and close to control and regular blood flowing into the heart and then away from the heart
• Healthy heart valve leaflets are able to fully open and close the valve during the heartbeat, but diseased valves might not fully open and close
• Any heart valve in the heart can become diseased, but the aortic valve is most commonly affected
• Valves can become “leaky” where they don’t completely close, this is called regurgitation; or can become narrowed and stiff and the valve is not able to open fully when blood is trying to pass through, this is called stenosis.

How is Valvular Heart Disease Diagnosed?

The doctor may hear a heart murmur (an unusual heart sound) when listening to your heart beat, or be suspicious of the problem depending on symptoms. An ultrasound scan of the heart (echocardiogram), usually performed in a Cardiology clinic, is a quick and easy way of diagnosing heart valve problems

How is Valvular Heart Disease Treated?

If the condition is not too severe, it might be managed with medicines to treat the symptoms, but once diagnosed can be monitored with regular checks

If the valve is more seriously diseased, surgery or intervention may be recommended. The type of surgery will depend on the valve involved and cause of the disease, but can included opening the heart to replace or repair the valve, or key-hole procedures where the valve can be treated without open surgery.

Outcomes of Valvular Heart Disease?

Treatment of severe heart valve disease has been shown to significantly improve symptoms, and save lives; as well as improve quality of life.