What is heart valve disease?
Heart valves work in conjunction with the four chambers of your heart to keep oxygen-rich blood flowing in the right direction through your heart, lungs and other areas of the body. The term “heart valve disease” describes two common conditions:
- Stenosis, in which the heart valve doesn’t fully open because of build-up of cholesterol or calcium on the leaflets of the aortic valve
- Regurgitation, in which the valve doesn’t close tightly, allowing blood to leak backward across the valve
Your heart is working harder than it should if you have either type of valve disease. Heart valve disease can develop before birth or at any age because of infection or exposure to other diseases.
Among the heart's four valves, the aortic valve is more likely to develop stenosis. The physicians and staff at the Valve Clinic at Parkview Heart Institute work with your primary care physician to determine the seriousness of your valve disease and recommend treatment for you.
