Heart Failure

Heart Valve Disease

Normal Heart Structure and Function
A normal, healthy heart pumps and circulates blood throughout the body. The heart has four chambers and is made up of special muscles. The squeezing and relaxing action of the muscles moves blood forward. Low-oxygen blood from elsewhere in the body flows into the right atrium of the heart. The muscles push this blood into the right ventricle. The right ventricle then pushes the blood into the lungs where it will receive oxygen. The oxygen-rich blood then travels to the left atrium and into the left ventricle. The left ventricle is the major pumping chamber of the heart. It pumps blood through the aortic valve to your whole body.   

Heart Valve Disease
Heart valves keep blood flowing through the heart in one direction. Your heart has four valves: the tricuspid, pulmonary, mitral and aortic valves. Heart valve disease occurs when a valve fails to work by not opening (stenosis) or closing (regurgitation) completely.

Stenosis: A valve that does not open completely decreasing the amount of blood that can move forward. The valves can be referred to as being sticky, narrow or stiff.
Regurgitation: A valve that does not close completely causing blood to backflow.
Causes of Heart Valve Disease
  • Family history
  • Age (65+): Normal wear and tear to the valves occurs over time. Gradual buildup of calcium can harden and thicken the valves (stenosis). The valve leaflets can slowly break down (regurgitation).
  • Infection: Bacterial endocarditis is an infection of the inner layer of the heart or heart valves commonly caused by staphylococci (staph) and streptococci (strep) bacteria.
  • Cardiovascular diseases and conditions:
    • Heart attack: Can cause scarring of the heart muscle and changes in the valves.
    • Cardiomyopathy: An enlarged heart can stretch open a valve.
    • Hypertension: Long-term raised blood pressure can cause heart damage.
  • Radiation: Cancer radiation therapy to the chest can damage valves and cause valve disease later in life. Certain types of chemotherapy also can cause valve damage.
  • Ethnicity: Some ethnic groups have a higher risk for specific cardiovascular diseases. For example, African Americans experience high blood pressure more frequently than other ethnic groups, putting them at a higher risk for valvular disease.
Potential Treatments for Heart Valve Disease
  • Valve repair or replacement:
    • Open heart surgery: A surgeon opens the chest to gain access to the heart and replace or repair ineffective valves.
    • Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER): This minimally invasive procedure repairs the mitral valve, helping to reduce regurgitation and improve overall heart function.
    • Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR): This minimally invasive procedure replaces a narrowed (stenosis) aortic valve. Your doctor delivers a new valve through a catheter, usually through the leg, restoring normal blood flow without the need for open heart surgery.
  • Monitor: If the valve disease has not progressed to the point of treatment, monitoring it may be the best option.    
  • Medications: No medication can cure or reduce current damage, but some can decrease symptoms.
CentraCare Heart & Vascular gives you the tools and support to lead a fulfilling life with heart failure. Our team of experts are here to help you on this journey through our My Heart program. If you have questions about our program, please call us at 320-656-7020.