Your heart is the engine of life, beating relentlessly to deliver oxygen-rich blood throughout the day. When this vital organ encounters valve disorders, the consequences can impact your daily life and overall health. These issues occur when one or more of your heart valves fail to function properly.
Heart valve issues can be intimidating, but they are manageable with modern medical treatment. Timely treatment in the best heart hospital in Vadodara will restore your cardiac health. In this blog, we will discuss symptoms of heart valve problems and ways to treat this disease.
Signs indicating heart valve disease
Your heart valve disorder may or may not cause clear symptoms. However, this disease gets worse over time and develops several symptoms-
- Tired feelings
- Shortness of breath
- Swelling feet and ankles
- Arrhythmia
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
If you avoid treating your heart valve disorder, the strain on your heart will get worse.
Types of issues in your heart valve issues
Your heart valves experience different kinds of problems.
Stenosis–
It occurs when your valve’s flaps become stiff and thick. Stenosis lets the blood flow backwards. That is why your valve cannot open, preventing blood from passing through it. Most people experience aortic valve stenosis, which affects the valve controlling blood flow into the aorta.
Regurgitation–
Regurgitation refers to backflow when your valve’s flaps do not close tightly. Prolapse is the main cause of this type of heart valve disorder. Your mitral valve may bulge back, resulting in a complicated disease.
Atresia–
It is a congenital heart valve disease that prevents normal blood circulation. When heart valves do not form properly, you will have atresia.
How do cardiologists diagnose heart valve disease?
Most cardiologists recommend different tests to confirm if you have a heart valve disease.
An echocardiogram is a test that uses sound waves to generate images of the heart. It reveals the health of the valve and the flow of blood through your heart.
An electrocardiogram is another test that records your heart’s electric signals. The technicians will attach sensors to your chest to obtain the result.
You may also need a cardiac MRI, which uses radio waves and magnetic fields to produce detailed images of the heart. The MRI report shows the severity of your valve disease.
So, consult the best cardiologist for early diagnosis of your heart valve disease.
Treatment options for heart valve disorders
Minor heart valve issues are treatable with medicines, such as blood thinners, which prevent blood clots. But a damaged heart valve needs surgery for repair or replacement. A minimally invasive or open-heart surgery is essential to treat your valve.
Annuloplasty is a common heart valve repair process where a cardiac surgeon tightens the outer ring. However, the surgeon will conduct other treatments for the repair.
Valvuloplasty is another surgical process to restore your valve’s flaps. In most cases, it is effective in repairing your mitral valve prolapse. The surgery will widen your heart valve’s opening to maintain the organ’s normal functioning.
If your heart valve is not repairable, replacement is the only alternative. Some surgeons use mechanical valves made of durable material. However, you will need to take blood thinners for the rest of your life. On the contrary, a biological valve is made from human or cow heart tissue. However, Biological tissues may not last long, leading to the need for replacement.
Conclusion
Heart valve disorders need timely diagnosis to recover from the disease. From early symptom diagnosis to treatment options, understanding everything is the primary step for your cardiac health. You can look for the best experts for your Heart Treatment in Vadodara. Reputable cardiologists will evaluate your conditions and recommend a tailored treatment. Their early intervention restores your heart’s health and prevents further complications.