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Valvular
disease
There are two types of heart valve disease--heart disease resulting
from narrowed heart valves, and heart disease resulting from leaky heart
valves. Each of them stems from several different causes, ranging from
birth defects, to bacterial infection, to aging.
Congential Heart Valve Disease
Congenital heart valve is the most common, and can result in inflexible
or narrowed, or floppy, valves, or irregular valve flaps. Congenital
heart valve disease is often diagnosed within a few days of a baby's
birth, but if the defect is minor, may not be discovered until much
later. Heart valve disease can be very hard to diagnose because some
forms of it do not produce symptoms.
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Some people, however, acquire heart
valve disease because of complications from another disease such
as heart muscle disease, coronary artery disease and heart
attack. A child who has suffered from a rheumatic heart disease
because of a simple strep throat will likely to have a valvular
disease when he or she reaches adulthood. |
Heart valve disease, however, can also develop as a complication from
some other illness; children who have had rheumatic fever following an
untreated case of strep throat have a greater than fifty percent chance
of developing scarring on their heart valves. A heart with scarred
valves has to work harder than one with smooth ones, and as the years
mount, the extra strain on the heart can lead to rheumatic heart
disease.
Endiocarditis
Another form of heart valve disease which can result from infection is
endiocarditis. Endiocarditis develops when bacteria enters the
bloodstream during surgery or dental procedures, causing inflammation of
the heart and scarring both its valves and leaflets. In the case of
endiocarditis, the scarred leaflets will allow blood entering the heart
to back up, or "regurgitate," diminishing the blood volume within the
heart and the amount of blood and oxygen which reaches the body's other
organs. For more info see
http://www.treatheartdiseasehelp.com/Congestive_Heart_Disease/ on
Congestive Heart Disease
The elderly are susceptible to heart valve disease resulting from
calcification, or calcium deposit buildup, along the valves.
Testing For Heart Valve Disease
Echocardiograms and MRIs are the tests best suited to diagnose heart
valve disease. Either one will give the cardiologist a good look at
abnormalities both in the main chambers of the heart and all its smaller
structures including the valves.
Symptoms of heart valve disease can include vertigo resulting from a
quick shift of positions, such as standing up or sitting, heart
palpitations or racing, shortness of breath after minimal activity, and
sever afternoon fatigue.
Those experiencing any of these symptoms on a regular basis should
arrange to see a cardiologist and be tested for a heart murmurs, a
strong indication of heart valve disease.
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/types-and-symptoms-of-heart-valve-disease-188060.html
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