Valvular Heart Disease

What is valvular heart disease?

Valvular heart disease affects the valves in your heart. Your heart has four chambers and four valves. The valves help control the flow of blood as it moves from one chamber to the next. 

When your heart contracts, the valves open, and they close when the heart relaxes. When you have heart valvular disease, these valves either fail to fully close (regurgitation) or fail to fully open (stenosis).

Regurgitation

If one of the valves in your heart fails to fully close, the blood can flow backward or leak. This reduces the amount of blood that moves forward.

Stenosis 

Stenosis is narrowing of the valve. When the valve narrows, it fails to fully open, limiting the amount of blood that flows from one chamber to the next. 

You can develop valvular heart disease from an abnormality you were born with or from an infection like rheumatic fever.

What are the symptoms of valvular heart disease?

Valvular heart disease symptoms vary depending on how quickly the heart problem develops. If your valvular heart disease occurs slowly over time, symptoms may go unnoticed.

If your valvular heart disease occurs quickly, you may have noticeable symptoms, such as:

• Shortness of breath (SOB)
• Chest pain
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Irregular heartbeat
• Weight gain
• Palpitations

If you have concerning symptoms, it’s always best to visit your primary care provider to get the right diagnosis and care. 

What tests do I need to diagnose valvular heart disease?

Before performing any tests, Dr. Kim conducts a thorough history and physical exam when you visit Candice Kim Cardiology with concerns about valvular heart disease.

She asks detailed questions about your symptoms, medical history, and family history and completes a physical exam. To diagnose valvular heart disease, Dr. Kim may request an echocardiogram. 

During this diagnostic test, she uses ultrasound imaging to evaluate the structure of your heart and the movement of blood through each chamber. 

What are some of the treatment options for valvular heart disease?

Dr. Kim creates a personalized treatment plan for valvular heart disease based on type and severity of symptoms. In some cases, she may not recommend any specific treatment except routine echocardiograms to monitor heart health.

In other cases, she may prescribe medications to reduce symptoms and improve the movement of blood through your heart. When appropriate, Dr. Kim refers you to a surgeon to discuss surgical repair of your malfunctioning heart valve. 

For expert management of your valvular heart disease, call Candice Kim Cardiology or schedule an appointment online today.