Valvular Heart Disease

Valvular heart disease affects the flow of blood through your heart due to problems with one or more of your heart valves. Florida Heart, Vein and Vascular Institute is a state-of-the-art cardiology practice with offices in Zephyrhills, Lakeland, Plant City, Wesley Chapel and Riverview, Florida, where cardiologists provide comprehensive care for valvular heart disease. They use cutting-edge tools to diagnose and treat valvular heart disease. Call the nearest office or schedule a consultation online today.

What should I know about valvular heart disease?

Valvular heart disease, also called heart valve disease, means there’s a heart valve flap that’s not opening or closing like it should. Your heart has four valves — tricuspid, pulmonary, mitral, and aortic. 

Each valve has a flap that opens during a heartbeat and closes between beats. The opening and closing of the valves ensures the blood flows through your heart in the right direction. 

There are different types of heart valve problems, including:

Regurgitation

Regurgitation means there’s a backflow of blood because the valve isn’t closing tight enough.

Stenosis

Stenosis means the valve is too stiff or thick and unable to open fully, limiting the amount of blood that flows through. 

Prolapse

Prolapse occurs when the valve is unable to close properly and is a common cause of regurgitation.

Atresia

Atresia means the heart valve failed to fully form, and there’s no opening for the blood to flow through.

Some people are born with valvular heart disease, while others develop the heart condition from other underlying health issues, such as rheumatic fever or coronary artery disease (CAD).

Do I need a cardiologist for asymptomatic valvular heart disease?

You should have a cardiologist if you have valvular heart disease, even if you don’t have symptoms. Many people have this heart condition for years before experiencing problems. 

However, valvular heart disease worsens over time and may cause:

• Chest pain during exercise (angina)
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Leg swelling
• Irregular heartbeat
• Dizziness

When your valves aren’t working as they should, your heart has to work harder to pump blood throughout your body, putting you at risk of health complications like heart failure or cardiac arrest.

What tests diagnose valvular heart disease?

Your cardiologist may perform various tests to diagnose valvular heart disease following a history and physical exam. Testing may include: 

• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Echocardiogram
• Chest X-ray
• Stress test

Your provider may also recommend a cardiac catheterization, an interventional cardiology procedure that uses catheters to evaluate your heart from the inside.

What are the treatments for valvular heart disease?

Your specialist at Florida Heart, Vein and Vascular Institute customizes your valvular heart disease treatment plan based on the severity of your disease. Treatment may include lifestyle changes, medications, or surgeries to repair or replace the faulty valve.

The interventional cardiologists at Florida Heart, Vein and Vascular Institute perform a number of procedures to treat valvular heart disease, including transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and the MitraClip™ procedure.

Call Florida Heart, Vein and Vascular Institute or schedule your cardiology consultation using the online booking feature today.