Heart valve disease and heart valve problems are more common than you might think, and they can be serious. Valve disease can affect both adults and children but are more common in adults.
The most common forms of heart valve disease are:
If these conditions go untreated, they can lead to long-term heart problems, including heart failure. At Banner Health, our heart specialists are ready to diagnose any heart valve problem you may be experiencing and work with you on the best treatment options for your condition.
For some people, symptoms can come on very quickly. For others, the disease will progress slowly, and symptoms will be mild.
Physical symptoms of heart valve disease may include:
Some people with heart valve disease won’t experience any symptoms at all, and because of that, symptoms have no bearing on the seriousness of the problem. If you think you may be at risk for heart valve disease, talk to your doctor.
Heart valve disease may be present at birth or it may develop in adulthood. People who are elderly, have experienced rheumatic fever, or had a heart attack or another type of heart disease may have a higher risk of developing heart valve disease.
Other risk factors include:
Not everyone with risk factors will develop heart valve disease but if you have risk factors, it’s good to discuss them with your doctor.
The right heart valve disease diagnosis and the right treatment can help you fully recover and get back to your life. The Banner Health heart care team is skilled in thorough methods of diagnosis. Our heart specialists are nationally recognized experts and will provide you with support throughout the process of exams that may include:
Depending on your prognosis, your doctor may try medication at first to manage issues such as mitral valve prolapse. If medicine doesn’t help, you may need surgery.
Today, our heart surgeons can provide different types of minimally invasive procedures as alternatives to open heart surgery. Procedures include:
A procedure that inserts a replacement valve into the aortic value through the use of a catheter.
A device that is used to help the mitral valve close more completely through the use of a catheter inserted through the groin. This procedure helps correct mitral valve regurgitation and improve blood flow through the heart.
Similar to the MitraClip, a small clip is placed on the tricuspid value to help it close more completely and improve blood flow through the heart to the lungs.
A less-invasive approach means less risk of infection, less pain after surgery and a shorter hospital stay.
After ensuring an accurate diagnosis, our heart care experts will outline an action plan and the following procedures may be considered:
Banner Health was among the first in the nation to offer the Sapien transcatheter heart valve, using transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) - one of the latest and most innovative treatments available. This is just one example of the many state-of-the-art options we have available to treat these conditions.
With our heart valve specialists, you'll be in good hands with access to the widest range of options for treating heart valve issues.
Eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly may help prevent heart valve disease. Be sure to get regular screenings for cholesterol levels and blood pressure to help maintain a heart-healthy lifestyle.
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