The aortic valve regulates the blood flow from the ventricles (heart’s lower chambers) to the aorta, which is the main artery of the heart. If this valve does not work properly, it leads to aortic valve disease. Earliest diagnosis and early treatment is the most important step in aortic valve disease. Untreated aortic valve disease can result in severe complications such as heart failure, infection, and even sudden death. Aortic valve disease can also be congenital (a birth defect). There are two types of aortic valve diseases.
It is also called aortic insufficiency or incompetence. Here the white blood flows backward from the aortic valve into the ventricles. The symptoms of this condition appear years later.
The main causes of aortic regurgitation are:
The symptoms may appear slowly or suddenly:
Blocking of aortic valve by the deposits leads to aortic valve stenosis. This blockage leads to obstruction in the blood flow. So, the left ventricle takes the burden to work hard to compensate for the reduced blood flow. This overload can result in heart failure.
The main causes of aortic stenosis are:
The symptoms of aortic stenosis include:
Aortic valve sclerosis is defined as the thickening of the aortic valve. This condition does not cause any obstruction in the flow of blood.
The main causes of aortic sclerosis are:
The symptoms of aortic sclerosis include:
Your doctor would talk to you regarding the symptoms and perform a physical examination and order for other tests. The tests include:
Medications and surgery are the two possible treatment options for aortic valve disease. Your doctor would recommend appropriate treatment depending on the condition.
| Drugs for aortic valve disease | Functions |
|---|---|
| Diuretics | Removes extra fluid from the tissues, reduces the symptoms of heart failure. |
| Anti-arrhythmic medications | Stabilize your heart rhythm |
| Vasodilators | Reduce your hearts burden by encouraging your heart’s flow in a right direction |
| ACE inhibitors | Treats blood pressure and heart failure |
| Beta blockers | Decrease your heart’s over palpations |
| Anticoagulants | Reduce the blood clots on your heart valves. |
Surgery: Surgical options include heart valve repair. Aortic valve replacement surgery is a traditional option; there are also minimally invasive methods of aortic valve surgery. Your valves may also be repaired by other procedures such as percutaneous balloon valvotomy.
