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Heart Valve Complications

When the heart pumps blood, the blood flows from the atria to the ventricle. Between these two compartments are valves. The tricuspid valve is between the right atrium and ventricle, and the mitral valve is between the left atrium and ventricle. The pulmonary valve separates the right ventricle from the pulmonary artery, which is the main pathway for deoxygenated blood to the lungs. When any of these valves weaken, it causes blood to improperly pump through the heart, causing poor blood circulation to the tissue in the body.

  1. Disease

    • There are two types of disease that occurs in heart valves. Regurgitation occurs when the valves do not close properly. This causes leaking and pressure from the heart, which pushes the blood backwards into the atria. Stenosis is a condition in which the valves stiffen or harden, making it difficult for blood to flow. The hardened valves cause the heart to pump harder to account for the lack of blood flow, which can lead to heart disease.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms of heart valve disease are similar to heart disease. The patient has difficulty breathing, and the blocking of the arteries causes chest pains. The irregular heartbeat can be felt in the chest as fluttering. Headaches, fatigue, dizziness and high blood pressure are also common. For patients with a defect in the tricuspid valve, the poor blood flow can affect the liver, causing pain in the abdomen from liver damage.

    Causes

    • Causes for heart valve conditions are usually secondary to an existing infection or condition. Rheumatic fever and syphilis can cause heart valve degradation. Because these diseases are mainly eradicated in the United States, heart valve conditions stemming from these infections are rare. Other causes are from genetic birth defects or the aging process. A side effect of a heart attack is possible damage to the heart valves.

    Diagnosis

    • Diagnosis begins with a visit to the patient's physician. The doctor uses a stethoscope to listen to the heart beat. A heart murmur can be heard through a stethoscope and is a sign of possible heart valve conditions. An electrocardiogram will be ordered to receive a more accurate analysis of the heart muscle. This test is painless and provides a graphical representation of the heartbeat. X-rays are taken for the doctor to observe any heart enlargement, which is a sign of heart disease.

    Treatment

    • Some conditions are not treatable and require careful, lifelong monitoring of the heart. Drug therapies are available for some patients. Beta blockers and calcium channel blockers control the heartbeat rate, which helps reduce symptoms of heart valve conditions. In extreme conditions, patients may need surgery to repair the valves.

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