By Vanessa Caceres 

 Medically reviewed by Anthony Pearson, MD

Heart valves help your blood flow in the heart and to your body. Heart valve disease—or valvular heart disease—can occur due to age, certain heart conditions, or issues present from birth. Not everyone with heart valve disease has symptoms, but those with symptoms should see a healthcare provider to determine the underlying cause and seek treatment.1

This article discusses surgical and nonsurgical heart valve disease treatment. It also covers types of heart valve disease, related symptoms, risks of leaving it untreated, and treatment options.

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Normal Heart Valve Function

The heart has four chambers: the left and right atria and the left and right ventricles. The heart also has four valves with flaps that ensure blood moves as it should in the heart and around your body. Each of the valves has a specific responsibility, as follows:2

• Aortic valve: Lets blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta, the main artery carrying blood away from the heart to the rest of the body

• Mitral valve: Allows blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle

• Pulmonary valve: Lets blood flow from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery

• Tricuspid valve: Directs blood flow from the right atrium to the right ventricle

If the valves don't open or close as they should, it is harder for the heart to work correctly.

Types of Heart Valve Disease

If you are diagnosed with heart valve disease, it will be categorized as one of the following types:3

• Regurgitation occurs when a valve's flaps don't close as tightly as they should, allowing blood to move backward—prolapse, or when the valve's flaps flop, commonly causes regurgitation.

• Stenosis is when the valve flaps become narrowed due to calcification or thickening. This can block the heart valve from fully opening, preventing adequate blood from passing through it. Some people develop regurgitation and stenosis.

• Atresia is an improperly formed heart valve with no opening for blood to pass through.

Heart Valve Disease vs. Heart Failure

Heart valve disease and heart failure are not the same thing. Heart valve disease refers to a problem with one of the heart valves. Heart failure is when the heart does not pump blood through the body as it usually would. Though, sometimes, heart valve disease can cause heart failure.3

Risks of Untreated Heart Valve Disease

Not all heart valve problems require immediate treatment. In some cases, a healthcare provider may monitor the progression of the heart valve condition before moving toward treatment.

Other times, treatment is immediately necessary and can help avoid more serious, sometimes fatal complications, including:4

• Atrial fibrillation: An irregular heart rate or rhythm

• Heart failure: When the heart does not pump blood through the body as it normally would

• Pulmonary hypertension: A type of high blood pressure that affects the arteries in the heart and lungs

• Stroke: Loss of blood flow to the brain3

• Sudden cardiac arrest (heart attack): Loss of blood flow to the heart3

Recognizing Heart Valve Disease Symptoms

It's possible to have a heart valve problem throughout your life and not know it as it has no symptoms. In most cases, heart valve disease progresses slowly, eventually leading to symptoms.5

You may feel more tired than usual with heart valve disease or wonder why you're out of breath with physical activity when it didn't cause any problems before. Symptoms of heart valve disease include the following:3

• Arrhythmia, or inconsistency with your heart's rate or rhythm

• Chest pain

• Dizziness

• Fainting

• Fatigue

• Low or high blood pressure2

• Swelling in the abdomen, ankles, feet, or neck veins

• Shortness of breath

Treating Heart Valve Disease Without Surgery

Medication can sometimes help control symptoms associated with heart valve disease, though it may not cure it. Depending on the cause of your heart valve disease, a provider may prescribe you blood pressure medication such as diuretics or vasodilators to support your heart's function.2

Qualifying for Heart Valve Disease Surgery

You may need surgery when one or more of your heart valves is not functioning properly and is negatively impacting your health. To decide if heart valve disease surgery is the best option for you, your healthcare provider will consider:6

• Your age

• The type of heart valve disease that you have

• The structure of your heart

• Other medical conditions that could limit your ability to have heart valve surgery

Before surgery, you may have to have other tests to give your provider more information about your valve disease. Make sure to ask in advance about any alternatives to having surgery so that you know all of your options.7

Ask in advance about any costs associated with the surgery and financial support available within your health system.

Types of Heart Valve Disease Surgeries

If your heart valve issue requires surgery, your provider will determine if you need a repair or a replacement, which involves the following:

• Heart valve replacement: During valve replacement, a provider may use a biological valve—made from animal or human tissue—or a mechanical valve.6

• Heart valve repair: During heart valve repair, the heart surgeon may mend torn leaflets in the valve, separate fused valve leaflets, or reshape valve parts.6

One of the latest forms of heart valve replacement called transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), does not involve traditional surgical incision. Procedures using catheters inserted into the veins or arteries are now available to replace the aortic valve with severe aortic stenosis and to repair the mitral valve with severe mitral regurgitation.8

The type of surgery used will depend on the exact heart valve problem; each comes with risks.

Some people undergo open heart surgery involving a larger chest incision to access the heart. During the surgery, you are connected to a heart-lung bypass machine that will do the work of your heart during the procedure.6

Other heart valve surgeries are less invasive, involving more minor cuts to complete the surgery. There is less pain and a quicker recovery associated with minimally invasive surgeries.

Monitoring and Following-Up With Heart Valve Disease

If you have heart valve surgery, it could take between four and eight weeks to recover.9 Follow any instructions your healthcare provider or surgeon gives you.

Your provider will likely ask you to participate in cardiac rehabilitation to restore your cardiovascular function.9 Make sure to attend these sessions. Ask for support from friends or family members to complete tasks you may not be able to do, including taking care of children and pets or doing household chores.

If your provider does not recommend surgery for you but wants to monitor the progress of your heart valve disease, keep any scheduled appointments.

Summary

Heart valve disease can occur with age, from a heart condition, or due to genetics. The most common types of heart valve disease are regurgitation, stenosis, and atresia. Medications for heart valve disease can help control the symptoms but won't cure the disease.

A heart surgeon may perform a heart valve repair or replacement for more severe cases. Untreated heart valve disease may lead to severe problems because the heart has to work harder. These include atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and sudden cardiac arrest or death.

Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Valvular heart disease.

Johns Hopkins Medicine. Heart valve diseases.

MedlinePlus. Heart valve disease.

Penn Medicine. What is a leaky heart valve?

American Heart Association. Recognizing the symptoms of worsening heart valve disease.

Johns Hopkins Medicine. Heart valve repair or replacement surgery.

Johns Hopkins Medicine. Questions to ask before surgery.

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

American Heart Association. Heart valve surgery recovery and follow up.

By Vanessa Caceres
Vanessa Caceres is a nationally published health journalist with over 15 years of experience covering medical topics including eye health, cardiology, and more.