Heart valve diseasea door in the heart that sticks or leaks.
The heart has four valves that keep blood flowing in one direction. In valve disease a valve does not open fully (stenosis) or does not close properly (regurgitation). Mild valve disease is common and often only needs monitoring.
At a glance
- Often noticed as
- A murmur, breathlessness or tiredness
- Confirmed with
- An echocardiogram
- Aim of care
- Monitor, and repair or replace at the right time
- Followed up in
- General cardiology
Symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person, and some people have none. These are the most common.
- Often none: a murmur is heard at a check-up
- Breathlessness on exertion
- Chest pain or tightness on exertion
- Dizziness or fainting
- Tiredness
- Palpitations
Causes and risk factors
- Age-related wear and calcium build-up
- A valve you were born with, such as an aortic valve with two leaflets instead of three
- Rheumatic fever in childhood
- An enlarged heart after a heart attack or in heart failure
- Infection of the valve (endocarditis)
How it is diagnosed
The diagnosis starts with your history and an examination. These are the tests most often used to confirm it.
How it is managed
Regular monitoring
Mild and moderate valve disease is usually checked with an echocardiogram every one to three years.
Medicines for symptoms
Medicines can ease breathlessness or control the heart rate, but they do not fix the valve.
Teeth and infections
Good dental health lowers the risk of a valve infection.
Repair or replacement
When a valve becomes severe, surgery or a catheter procedure is arranged by referral to a specialist centre.
General information, not a treatment plan. Your treatment is decided with you after an assessment.
Get emergency help now if you have
Call emergency services or go to the nearest emergency department. Do not wait for a clinic appointment.
- Fainting, especially on exertion
- Chest pain
- Severe or sudden breathlessness
- Fever and feeling very unwell when you have a known valve problem
Common questions
I have been told I have a murmur. Is that valve disease?
Not always. Many murmurs are harmless. An echocardiogram shows whether a valve is affected.
Will I need surgery?
Most people with mild or moderate valve disease do not. Treatment is considered when a valve becomes severe or causes symptoms.
How often do I need a scan?
It depends on how severe the valve is. Mild disease may be scanned every few years; severe disease every six to twelve months.
Other conditions
All conditions- Heart failureThe heart muscle is not pumping or filling as well as it should, so the body receives less than it needs.
- Atrial fibrillationAn irregular, often fast heartbeat that starts in the upper chambers and raises the risk of stroke.
- High blood pressurePressure in the arteries stays too high. It rarely causes symptoms, but it strains the heart and blood vessels over time.
- High cholesterolToo much cholesterol in the blood, which can build up in artery walls over many years.
- Coronary artery diseaseThe arteries that supply the heart muscle become narrowed by fatty plaque.
- CardiomyopathyA disease of the heart muscle itself, which may become thickened, stretched or stiff.
- AnginaChest discomfort, usually on exertion, when the heart muscle briefly gets too little blood.
- ArrhythmiaA heartbeat that is too fast, too slow or irregular, caused by a problem in the heart's electrical system.
- Diabetes and the heartDiabetes raises the risk of heart and blood vessel disease, so the two are best managed together.
Living with this, or worried you might be?
Book a consultation or send a question on WhatsApp. Your history, results and treatment are reviewed in person, and the plan is explained to you before you leave.
This page explains a condition in general terms. It cannot diagnose you or replace an examination, and it is not a treatment plan. Do not change or stop a medicine without talking to your doctor. If your symptoms are severe, sudden or happening now, seek emergency care immediately.