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| Valvular Heart Disease |
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| Your heart has four valves that work like gates, separating the heart chambers and controlling blood flow into and out of the heart.
Normal heart valves open wide and close tight in response to changing pressure within the heart chambers. When there is valvular disease, the valves may not close tightly and blood may leak through. This is called insufficiency or regurgitation. When the valve does not open fully, it is described as stenotic. A person with valvular heart disease may have either insufficient or stenotic heart valves, or a combination of both.
When heart valves do not function normally because of disease, your doctor may recommend replacement with a prosthetic (artificial) valve. |
| Symptoms |
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| Symptoms for valvular heart disease can include shortness of breath and fatigue, which is caused by the heart not pumping an ample amount of blood through the body. Instead, the blood sloshes uselessly between chambers as the valve between them doesn't work properly. |
| Risk Factors |
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| There are several risk factors that cannot be controlled.Age
As we get older, heart valves tend to weaken or harden. These problems can lead to valvular heart disease, and eventually, valve replacement surgery.
Heredity
Valvular heart disease may be a congenital problem for some. If a member of your family has it, be sure your physician knows so that you can be monitored and treated accordingly.
Rheumatic fever
Rheumatic fever is the most common cause of acquired (not inherited) valvular disease. People generally contract rheumatic fever between the ages of 5 and 15, but the valve problems don't surface for another 10 to 15 years. Rheumatic fever can cause scarring and thickening of the leaflets of the valves. About 65% of those who have had rheumatic fever will develop valve disease. |
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