We’re Here for Matters of the Heart
You put your whole heart into caring for loved ones and doing the things you enjoy. When it comes to this important muscle, you want experienced and compassionate care that comes from the heart.
At AdventHealth, you can feel confident with a team of world-class cardiologists and physicians at your side who offer leading-edge treatments for heart valve disease. From listening for heart murmurs during routine physical examinations to providing advanced heart valve disease treatments like transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), we’re here to ease your mind and keep your spirits strong as you strive for lifelong heart wellness.
What Is Heart Valve Disease?
Heart valve disease occurs when one or more of the heart's valves don’t function properly, affecting blood flow through the heart. The heart has four valves that help regulate the flow of blood: the aortic, mitral, pulmonary and tricuspid valves. When these valves don’t open or close properly, it can lead to complications.
Types of Heart Valve Disease
- Stenosis: when a valve becomes narrowed, restricting blood flow
- Regurgitation (or insufficiency): when a valve doesn’t close tightly, causing blood to leak backward
- Prolapse: when a valve flaps or bulges back into the heart’s chamber, which can affect its ability to close properly
Our experienced teams treat each type of heart valve disease. You can feel confident that we’ll deliver expert care for you, no matter your diagnosis.
World-Class Heart and Vascular Care
- Screenings and Education for a Clearer Diagnosis
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Your heart is at the core of your healthy, happy lifestyle. Keeping that core strong is one of the most important aspects of healthy living. When something doesn't feel right with your heart, come in for a screening, so we can give you a clear diagnosis and, if necessary, start you on a proper course of treatment for heart valve disease.
We use the latest technologies and tests to diagnose all types of heart valve disease, including:
- Chest X-ray: a test using radiation to create an image of the chest, detecting heart and lung issues
- Echocardiogram: an ultrasound of the heart showing its structure, valves and blood flow
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): a test that records the heart's electrical activity to detect arrhythmias and heart conditions
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): a noninvasive imaging technique that uses magnets and radio waves to create detailed images of the heart
- Physical examination: a hands-on checkup by a doctor to assess overall health and detect heart issues
- Stress test: a test monitoring the heart during physical activity to assess its function under stress
A diagnosis is the first step in your journey toward greater heart health. If our screenings and tests do uncover heart valve disease, your team of cardiologists and other specialists will be by your side, helping you take care of your heart, so it can continue to take care of you.
- Understanding Heart Valve Disease
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Your heart has four valves that facilitate blood flow through and out of your heart. When they're not opening and closing properly, you can experience heart valve disease symptoms, including:
- Chest pain: discomfort or pain in the chest, often due to heart or lung issues
- Fatigue or weakness: unusual tiredness or lack of strength, even with minimal effort
- Lightheadedness: feeling dizzy or faint, often due to low blood pressure or reduced blood flow
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat: a fast or uneven heart rate, which may feel like palpitations
- Reduced ability to exercise: difficulty performing physical activities due to heart or lung limitations
- Shortness of breath: difficulty breathing, often during physical activity or when lying down
- Swollen ankles, feet or abdomen: fluid buildup in the lower extremities or abdomen, often due to heart failure
You might not have any symptoms from heart valve disease, or you could have sudden, very noticeable symptoms. Either way, we’re here to help with regular checkups, screenings, education and world-class care.
- Leaders in Heart Valve Disease Treatment
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When you hear the words heart valve disease from your health care provider, it’s understandable to feel uncertain about what comes next. But your condition doesn’t have to hold you back from living the life you love. In our network of care, you’ll have a world-class cardiology team and innovative technologies on your side, helping you to monitor, manage and treat your condition at every turn.
In some cases, you can successfully manage heart valve disease with medication and monitoring alone. Our cardiologists will work closely with you to help control your symptoms. This sometimes means using medications tailored to your specific care plan that could include:
- ACE inhibitors: medications that relax blood vessels, lower blood pressure and reduce heart strain
- Antiarrhythmic medications: drugs that help control or restore a normal heart rhythm
- Beta-blockers: medications that slow the heart rate and reduce blood pressure
- Blood thinners: medications that prevent blood clots, reducing the risk of stroke
- Diuretics: medications that help remove excess fluid from the body, often used for heart failure
If additional treatment options for heart valve disease are needed, our hospitals, centers and teams across the AdventHealth network work hard to deliver the latest minimally invasive heart valve surgery procedures, all while maintaining a dedicated focus on your whole-person wellness. These surgeries can include:
- Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR): a minimally invasive procedure to replace a damaged aortic valve using a catheter
- Heart valve repair: a surgical procedure to fix a damaged heart valve, improving its function
- Heart valve replacement: a procedure to replace a faulty heart valve with a mechanical or biological valve
Expertise in Every Area of Cardiovascular Care
From smart preventive steps to trusted treatments for the most complex cardiovascular conditions, we’re here to care for your heart for a lifetime. Learn more about our heart and vascular care at AdventHealth.
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Heart Failure Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment
Whether you’re focused on prevention or managing a diagnosis, the heart failure experts in our nationwide connected network of care focus on taking care of your entire cardiovascular system, so you can feel your best at every age.
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Heart Health and Prevention
Our AdventHealth hospitals partner with the American Heart Association to collaborate on community initiatives that bring awareness to preventive heart care, warning signs and healthy lifestyle changes.
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General Cardiology
Our general cardiology teams across our AdventHealth network of care offer everything from preventive screenings and heart-health education to major heart disease treatments and surgeries to help your heart heal.
Heart and Vascular Care You Can Count On
We’re here to take care of your cardiovascular system so you can keep putting your whole heart into everything you do.
Answering Your Heart Valve Disease FAQs
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Q:Question: What are the most common types of heart valve disease?
A:Answer:The most common types of heart valve disease are:
- Aortic stenosis: narrowing of the aortic valve, restricting blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body
- Mitral regurgitation: the mitral valve does not close properly, causing blood to leak backward into the left atrium
- Mitral stenosis: the mitral valve becomes stiff or narrowed, obstructing blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle
- Aortic regurgitation: the aortic valve doesn't close tightly, allowing blood to flow back into the left ventricle
- Tricuspid regurgitation: the tricuspid valve leaks, causing blood to flow backward into the right atrium
- Pulmonary valve stenosis: narrowing of the pulmonary valve, which limits blood flow from the right ventricle to the lungs
Each type can lead to complications like heart failure or stroke if not managed properly, so it’s important to talk with your health care provider about the right treatment for you.
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Q:Question: What are the symptoms of heart valve disease?
A:Answer:The symptoms of heart valve disease can vary depending on the type and severity, but common signs include:
- Chest pain or discomfort: often felt as tightness or pressure in the chest
- Fatigue or weakness: unusual tiredness, especially during physical activity
- Shortness of breath: difficulty breathing, especially during exertion or while lying down
- Heart palpitations: irregular or racing heartbeats
- Swelling in the legs, ankles or abdomen: fluid buildup caused by the heart's inability to pump effectively
- Dizziness or lightheadedness: feeling faint or unsteady, often due to low blood pressure or reduced blood flow
- Fainting or near-fainting: caused by poor blood circulation or arrhythmias
If you experience any of these symptoms, especially chest pain or shortness of breath, it's important to seek immediate medical care so you can get evaluated by a doctor. Early treatment can help manage the condition and prevent complications.
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Q:Question: What causes heart valve disease?
A:Answer:Heart valve disease can be caused by various factors, including:
- Aging: over time, heart valves may thicken, stiffen or develop calcium deposits, affecting their ability to function properly
- Congenital heart defects: some people are born with heart valve abnormalities that may affect the valve’s structure or function
- Infections: infections like endocarditis can damage heart valves, and bacteria or viruses can affect the valve tissue, leading to scarring or infection
- Rheumatic fever: a complication from untreated strep throat that can cause scarring of the heart valves, leading to long-term damage
- High blood pressure (hypertension): chronic high blood pressure can strain the heart and cause damage to the valves, particularly the aortic valve
- Heart disease: conditions like coronary artery disease, heart attack or heart failure can lead to valve problems, especially when the heart’s structure is affected
- Other conditions: diseases such as Marfan syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can affect connective tissues and lead to valve problems
Managing risk factors, like controlling blood pressure, cholesterol and treating infections early, can help prevent heart valve disease.
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Q:Question: Is mitral valve prolapse considered heart disease?
A:Answer:Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is not typically considered a form of heart disease, but it is a heart valve disorder. It occurs when the mitral valve doesn't close properly, causing one or both of its flaps (leaflets) to bulge (prolapse) into the left atrium during heartbeats. While many people with MVP experience no symptoms and live normal lives, it can sometimes lead to complications, such as:
- Mitral valve regurgitation: where blood leaks backward into the left atrium
- Arrhythmias: irregular heart rhythms, which can cause palpitations or dizziness
- Infections: in rare cases, MVP can increase the risk of heart valve infections like endocarditis
In general, MVP is considered a benign condition, but it can be associated with mild to moderate symptoms in some cases, and in rare instances, may lead to more serious heart problems. It's important to monitor the condition with regular checkups if diagnosed, but it doesn't usually fall under the category of heart disease.
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Q:Question: How do you prevent heart valve disease?
A:Answer:Preventing heart valve problems involves maintaining your overall heart health and managing your risk factors. Controlling high blood pressure through a healthy diet, regular exercise and medication when necessary is essential, as high blood pressure can strain the heart and valves. Additionally, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly and managing diabetes can reduce the risk of heart disease and valve problems. Smoking should be avoided, as it damages blood vessels, and excessive alcohol intake can also contribute to heart issues. A heart-healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats can help support your cardiovascular health.
Preventing infections, such as strep throat, and treating them promptly can lower the risk of rheumatic fever, which can damage heart valves. Regular checkups with a doctor allow for early detection of valve problems or other heart conditions, while awareness of any family history of valve disease is important for early intervention. By following these steps, you can significantly reduce the risk of developing heart valve disease and keep your heart beating strong.