Valvular heart disease: Diagnosis and treatment options

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in men as well as women in the United States and worldwide. This accounts for nearly 647,000 deaths of Americans from heart disease each year. Coronary artery disease and stroke are the major contributors to causing life-threatening situations. 

Another common heart problem is valvular heart disease in Queens and other cities in the US. As per the American Heart Association, each year, nearly 5 million people in the United States are diagnosed with valvular heart disease. It is a condition that occurs when one or more valves in the heart fail to work properly. If left untreated, valvular heart disease can become life-threatening. A human heart has four valves that allow blood to flow in the correct direction. If one or more valves fail to close or open properly, then there will be an interruption in the blood flowing through the heart. 
Let’s learn more about valvular heart disease and it’s diagnostic as well as treatment options. 

Types of valvular heart disease

Generally, valvular heart diseases are of two types:

Valvular stenosis - This is a condition that occurs when one or more heart valves fail to open properly either due to fused or still leaflets.

Valvular insufficiency - Valvular insufficiency is when the valves do not seal properly, which causes some blood to leak backward. If the leak worsens, your heart has to work harder.  

How to diagnose valvular heart disease?

When you visit your cardiac doctor, she/he will perform a physical exam along with assessing your signs and symptoms. Your doctor will also find out your heart murmur, as this could be a sign of valvular heart disease. Apart from this, there are also many tests available to diagnose this condition properly, such as:
  • Chest X-ray 
  • Echocardiography
  • Cardiac MRI
  • Cardiac Catheterization
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG)
  • Stress test
Treatment options for valvular heart disease 

The heart valve conditions are treated depending on the individual’s health history and disease type. If your condition is mild, then your doctor may recommend you to live a healthy lifestyle and prescribe you some medications. On the other hand, if your heart valve is serious, you’ll be recommended to undergo any of the following treatments. 
  • Heart valve surgery
  • Heart repair surgery
  • Heart valve replacement 
  • Valvuloplasty 
  • Minimally Invasive Tricuspid Valve Repair Surgery and more 
The final thought 

If you have a family history with valvular heart disease, it is recommended to visit your cardiac doctor to determine your risk of developing valve heart disease and accordingly take the required measures. 

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