This article discusses surgical and nonsurgical heart valve disease treatment.
Heart valve disease refers to a problem with one of the heart valves.
Heart failure is when the heart does not pump blood through the body as it usually would.
FatCamera / Getty Images
Though, sometimes, heart valve disease can cause heart failure.
Risks of Untreated Heart Valve Disease
Not all heart valve problems require immediatetreatment.
In most cases, heart valve disease progresses slowly, eventually leading to symptoms.
confirm to ask in advance about any alternatives to having surgery so that you know all of your options.
Ask in advance about any costs associated with the surgery and financial support available within your health system.
The throw in of surgery used will depend on the exact heart valve problem; each comes with risks.
Some people undergoopen heart surgeryinvolving a larger chest incision to pull up the heart.
Other heart valve surgeries are less invasive, involving more minor cuts to complete the surgery.
There is less pain and a quicker recovery associated with minimally invasive surgeries.
Your provider will likely ask you to participate incardiac rehabilitationto restore your cardiovascular function.confirm to attend these sessions.
The most common types of heart valve disease are regurgitation, stenosis, and atresia.
Medications for heart valve disease can help control the symptoms but won’t cure the disease.
A heart surgeon may perform a heart valve repair or replacement for more severe cases.
Untreated heart valve disease may lead to severe problems because the heart has to work harder.
These include atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and sudden cardiac arrest or death.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heart valve disease.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Heart valve diseases.
Penn Medicine.What is a leaky heart valve?
American Heart Association.Recognizing the symptoms of worsening heart valve disease.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Heart valve repair or replacement surgery.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Questions to ask before surgery.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).
American Heart Association.Heart valve surgery recovery and follow up.
