Contents:
- Medical Video: Understanding Heart Valve Disease
- What is a heart valve?
- Various conditions that cause VHD
- Specific types of VHD
- Treatment for VHD
Medical Video: Understanding Heart Valve Disease
Are you or your partner diagnosed with the disease valvular heart (VHD) or heart valve disease? Both of these diseases describe one or many of the abnormalities that occur in four human heart valves.
These valves or channels normally function to drain blood from the heart in the right position, but when the valve does not work properly it will cause problems, such as chest pain, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, and even heart failure.
Indeed, with treatment, almost all types of VHD can be treated with medication and surgery (if needed) so you can recover from the disease.
What is a heart valve?
You can imagine a heart valve as a canal that delivers blood to the heart in one direction. This valve can open and close simultaneously with the rhythm of your heart rate, adjusting to the right time so that the blood continues to move accordingly, and to prevent backup.
These valves open and close so that the blood stays in motion as it should. If something goes wrong with this valve, as a result there can be a leak of blood and blood can flow in the wrong direction, this causes VHD. The four heart valves will be explained as follows:
- Tricuspid Valve
When blood returns from body organs to the right atrium (upper chamber) heart, the tricuspid valve opens to allow blood to move into the right ventricula (lower chamber) When the right ventricula is filled, the tricuspid valve closes to keep blood from coming out of the right atrium. See the 3-D model of the Triskuspid valve.
- Pulmonary valve
The right ventricula containing blood contracts and pumps blood from the pulmonary valve that opens to the lungs through the pulmonary artery. When blood has flowed, the pulmonary valve will be closed to keep the blood from returning to the right ventricula. See the 3-D model of the pulmonary valve.
- Mitral Valve
When newly oxidized blood from the lungs has left the left atrium (upper chamber), the mitral valve opens, allowing blood to flow into the left ventricula (lower chamber) When the left ventricula is fully filled, the mitral valve is closed to keep blood from flowing back into the lungs. See the 3-D model of the mitral valve.
- Aortic valve
When the left ventricle contracts, encouraging oxidized blood from the aortic valve that opens to the aorta, the main artery of the body, blood then exits all organs of the human body. When the left ventricle is empty, the aortic valve closes to keep blood coming back into the heart.
Various conditions that cause VHD
Many things can cause VHD, making this one of the most common heart diseases in human life. Degenerative diseases, birth defects, connective tissue diseases, trauma, and tumors can affect the condition of a person's heart valve, besides that, pulmonary hypertension coronary artery disease, infection, problems with the aorta, or other things can also cause VHD disease to appear. One of the rheumatic diseases, is known as the biggest cause of VHD disease. However, antibiotics can kill the development of the disease so rheumatism is not important as a cause of VHD.
Another common cause of this disease is the weakening of the valve tissue itself, which occurs usually in patients who are elderly. When plaque expansion occurs in the arteries, it can also occur in the aortic or mitral valve, causing the two valves to thicken. A heart attack can also damage the valve. Whatever causes initial damage, it generally occurs because of one of two types that interfere with blood flow to the heart:
- Regurgitasii
Can be called by the inability of the valve to close properly so that blood can return to the previous place. The volume of blood that comes out slightly will cause the heart to work more. But over time, this will cause widening and inefficient.
- Stenosis
This happened when "leaflets"Or the door of the valve does not open wide, so that only a small amount of blood can pass through it. Again, the heart must work more to be able to pump enough blood and drain it into body parts. Usually stenosis occurs because "leaflets"Thickened and stiff, or fused.
What are the symptoms of VHD?
When the heart works to overcome the decrease in blood flow, symptoms will usually appear, including:
- Hard to breath
- Fatigue
- Fainting or head feels light
- Chest pain
- Arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)
- pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs)
- pulmonary / systemic edema (there is tissue building in the lungs or other parts of the body)
- Reduced sports capacity
- Blood clots (can cause heart attacks and strokes)
- Heart failure
Specific types of VHD
Although many types are different from VHD, these types can be divided into categories based on which valves are affected. Generally valve problems occur in the mitral and aortic valves. Whereas the tricuspid valve and pulmonary valve rarely occur.
Mitral Valve Disease
Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is one of the most common forms of heart valve disease. This happened during one or two of flaps or leaflets widened, preventing the valve from closing properly. Usually, this is not a serious condition. Mitral regurgitation and mitral stenosis can also happen.
Aortic Valve Disease
People who have high blood pressure and carry body defects are at risk of developing it aortic regurgitation. People who are born with a bicuspid aortic valve or an elderly person also have a risk of experiencing it aortic valve stenosis.
Trichuspid Valve Disease
Tricuspid regurgitation (also known as tricuspid disability) is usually caused by the widening of the right ventricle. This condition also sometimes occurs in connection with mitral valve disease, or left ventricular dysfunction. Tricuspid stenosis can also cause a widening of the right atrium.
Pulmonary Valve Disease
Pulmonary hypertension, heart infection, or valve problems conginetal can cause pulmonary regurgitation. On the other hand, pulmonary stenosis, usually caused by a person's birth defect from birth.
Treatment for VHD
Treatment for different types of VHD depends on how the valve problem affects blood flow. People who don't show symptoms or show little signs usually don't need treatment. If the problem worsens, or the treatment stops working, balloon procedure to open a narrowed valve or surgery needs to be done. Doctors usually recommend a lifestyle pattern, regular exercise, and avoiding cigarettes and alcohol that aim to improve your body's functions.
