A heart valve disease type in which the body’s main artery is narrowed and does not open completely is called Aortic valve stenosis or aortic stenosis. It occurs in the valve between the primary aorta (artery) and the lower left heart chamber. As a result, this condition prevents blood flow from the heart to the aorta and the whole body.
Healthcare providers prescribe treatment depending on the condition. Sometimes, people need surgery to replace or repair the valve. In case you experience a severe form of aortic valve stenosis and do not get treatment, it can lead to death.
Symptoms
People with this heart valve condition experience different symptoms from mild to severe. Commonly, the symptoms appear when the narrowing of the valve is severe. Sometimes, people with this condition may not experience any symptoms for years. Check below some symptoms:
- Irregular heart sound
- Angina (chest pain)
- Tightness, feeling faint or dizzy during physical activity
- Fatigue (extreme tiredness)
- Trouble breathing
- Palpitations (fast and fluttering heartbeat)
- Not eating and gaining weight enough (these symptoms happen usually in children with aortic valve stenosis)
This health condition can also lead to heart failure. The most common heart failure symptoms include swollen ankles and feet, breathing problems, and extreme tiredness.
Causes
First, we should understand how the heart and its valves typically work. Therefore, the heart contains 4 valves that maintain blood flow in the right direction. These include the Aortic, Mitral, Tricuspid, and Pulmonary valves. Furthermore, each valve has cusps or leaflets (flaps) that help open and close once when the heart beats. If the valves do not open or close as they should the blood flow can be reduced or even blocked.
The valve located between the aorta and the lower left heart chamber does not open completely happens in people with aorta valve stenosis. As a result, the region where blood goes out of the heart becomes narrowed (stenosis).
Once this heart valve disease occurs, the heart starts not working properly and it becomes harder to pump enough blood into the aorta and the whole body. Extra stains on the heart can damage the heart muscle, which usually leads to heart failure or other serious problems. Check below some aortic valve stenosis causes:
Congenital Heart Defect
Sometimes, children are born with an aortic valve that has two cusps (bicuspid aortic valve), one (unicuspid), or four (quadricuspid) cusps instead of three (tricuspid aortic valve). Regular checkups with doctors are recommended for those who have a bicuspid aortic valve. Valve replacement or repair is required if it starts to leak or narrow. Commonly, it does not produce any problems until adulthood.
Aortic Valve Calcification
One of the minerals found in the blood is calcium and it can build up on the heart valves. However, this occurs usually in older people (70-80 years old). Not every time, calcium deposits provoke problems, some people do not notice any symptoms. An increased risk of valve stiffening happens in people with congenital aortic defects.
Rheumatic Fever
Damage to the heart valves can provoke untreated strep throat. However, it can also form scar tissue on the aortic valve that narrows the valve opening. As a result, it produces a surface where calcium can build up more easily. While this condition is quite rare in the United States, it can damage more than one heart valve.
Risk Factors
- The risk of aortic valve stenosis increases with aging
- Congenital heart disease
- Heart disease risk factors include high cholesterol levels, diabetes, and hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Medical history of heart infections (such as rheumatoid fever, infective endocarditis, and others)
- Radiation therapy used for cancer treatment
What Are The Possible Aortic Valve Stenosis Complications?
If you ignore this condition and do not receive treatment, it may lead to serious health problems or even death. Examples include:
- Arrhythmias (irregular heart rhythms)
- Blood clots
- Bleeding
- Stroke
- Heart failure
- Certain infections that impact the heart (including endocarditis)
If you suspect you have any of the previous complications, immediately visit a doctor.
Prevention
Check below some tips that could help to prevent aortic valve stenosis:
- Prevent or treat rheumatic fever – In case you have a sore throat, you should visit a doctor because this condition is commonly easily treated with antibiotics. If you ignore a strep throat it can lead to rheumatic fever, which is one of the risk factors that provoke aortic valve stenosis.
- Maintain your heart healthy – It is advised to manage all risk factors for heart disease including obesity, diabetes, high levels of cholesterol in the blood, hypertension, and others.
- Take Care of the gums and teeth – Experts think there could be a connection between gingivitis (infected gums) and endocarditis (infected tissue of the heart).
Once you are diagnosed with aortic valve stenosis, physicians recommend to avoid extra strain on your heart.
Diagnosis
Physicians to diagnose this condition usually perform a physical examination (such as listening to the heart with a stethoscope) and ask questions about symptoms and medical history. They can also perform some tests that will help to confirm the disease. Check below some of them:
Tests
- Echocardiogram – This test involves sound waves that help to make pictures of the beating heart. This test also helps to see blood flow through the heart and its valves. An echocardiogram also helps to identify the severity of the aortic valve stenosis and whether you have a weakened heart muscle or not.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) – This test helps to measure the electrical activity of the heart and how fast or slow the heart beats.
- Chest X-ray – People with this heart valve disease have an enlarged heart muscle and this test helps to determine whether you have this symptom or not. Moreover, it shows swelling and calcium buildup on the aortic valve.
- Exercise or stress tests – Physicians can perform this test to understand if you have aortic valve stenosis or not. These include walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike.
- Cardiac computerized tomography (CT) scan – This test shows the aorta size and other details.
- Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan – It is usually used to determine the aorta size and the severity of the condition.
- Cardiac catheterization – This test is commonly used when other tests cannot diagnose and identify the severity of the aortic valve disease.
Treatment
Healthcare providers usually prescribe different treatments for people with aortic valve stenosis. For instance, if you have a mild form of this heart valve disease, you may need some lifestyle changes and medicines only while in severe cases the only way to treat this condition is surgery. Check below some treatment options:
- Balloon valvuloplasty – This is a common treatment option for aortic valve stenosis in children and infants. Adults who receive this procedure experience narrowing of the aortic valve again. It can be used before a valve replacement in case the patient is too ill.
- Aortic valve replacement – This treatment option helps to treat aortic valve stenosis. It involves the removal of a damaged valve and replacing it with a mechanical valve or a valve produced from cow, pig, or human heart tissue (biological tissue valve).
- Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) – This is a minimally invasive procedure that helps to replace the narrowed aortic valve. This is an alternative to open-heart aortic valve replacement surgery.
- Aortic valve repair – However, this is a procedure in which the aortic valve is repaired but it is used in rare cases. Mostly, a replacement of the valve is required for people with aortic valve stenosis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the stages of aortic valve stenosis?
After diagnosis, your physician may tell you the disease stage. These stages help doctors to identify the best treatment option for you. Check below 4 aortic valve stenosis stages:
- Stage I – In this stage, people are at increased risk of developing aortic valve stenosis.
- Stage II – Aortic valve stenosis is mild or moderate but without any symptoms.
- Stage III – Also known as asymptomatic severe valve disease.
- Stage IV – It occurs when the valve disease is severe and provokes symptoms.
What is the best treatment method for aortic valve stenosis?
Mostly, healthcare professionals prescribe aortic valve replacement surgery. Talk with your doctor for more details.
What is life expectancy in people with aortic valve stenosis?
An average life expectancy is 1-2 years if shortness of breath or chest pain occurs. However, this condition occurs mostly in older people over 65 years old. Ask your healthcare provider if you have additional questions.
