Valvular Heart Disease
The heart contains four
valves that allow blood to be pumped in a forward direction through its chambers. Damage to the heart valves may result from rheumatic fever,
bacterial infections, and degeneration and calcification of the
Valve as part of the aging process. Bacterial invasion of deformed heart valves causes a serious heart ailment known as bacterial endocarditis, which was fatal prior to the development of antibiotic therapy. Valve
regurgitation also occurs when supporting structures of that valve stretch or rupture.
If scar tissue forms on the valves, the tissue may fuse together and obstruct normal blood flow through the valve, a condition known as stenosis. The valve flaps may also be scarred in such a way that they cannot close, resulting in regurgitation of blood. Both
stenosis and regurgitation can be detected with a stethoscope as heart murmurs, which are abnormal heart sounds. Symptoms in
Valvular heart disease include shortness of breath and excessive fatigue on exertion. Long-standing valvular dysfunction may result in heart failure.
Early treatment of valvular heart disease is medical, although balloon catheters can be used in some situations to dilate stenotic valves. Surgery is usually necessary to replace or repair the damaged valve as symptoms worsen. Valves may be replaced with
mechanical (metal or carbon) prostheses, or with valves constructed from animal sources or from another human. Mechanical valves require the use of blood thinners.
More abstracts about the VALVULAR HEART DISEASE