Heart valve disease is any condition or abnormality that affects the heart valves, which are responsible for the smooth flow of blood through the heart.
Valve disease can have a variety of symptoms, depending on the severity of the condition, and can lead to heart failure or other complications if left untreated.
Symptoms of valve disease depend on the severity of the condition, the type of valve abnormality (stenosis or insufficiency), and which valve is affected. Some common symptoms of all valve diseases are:
- Shortness of breath: At first, shortness of breath may be observed during exercise or when performing normal activity, and later even at rest.
- Fatigue and weakness: Patients may feel more tired than usual, and their physical endurance may decrease.
- Swelling (edema): In the legs, ankles, or abdomen, swelling may occur due to the heart’s inability to pump enough blood.
- Dizziness or fainting: Weak heart function can cause blood pressure to drop, causing dizziness or even fainting.
- Chest pain: Chest pain can occur when the heart does not receive enough oxygen due to valve dysfunction.
- Palpitations (arrhythmia): In the case of arrhythmia due to valvular disease, the patient may feel a pounding or “fluttering” heartbeat.
- Abnormal heartbeat: Creates a feeling of restlessness or tachycardia.
Some people with mild forms of valvular disease do not have any symptoms at all, or the symptoms may be very mild at first. When the condition progresses and becomes more serious, the symptoms become more obvious and require medical monitoring.
Cardiologist Mr. Michael Hasios has state-of-the-art equipment in his clinic for the diagnosis of valvular heart disease, knowledge and experience in modern therapeutic approaches for each valvular heart disease separately, with the administration of medication and systematic monitoring of the patient in order to prevent his condition from worsening.
The fact that he holds a postgraduate diploma in Interventional Cardiology (with a grade of Excellent), allows him, in the event that the patient does not respond to medication, to examine with him all possible minimally invasive techniques for the restoration of the affected valve and then, after each invasive technique, to effectively monitor the course of the patient’s health.
Read more about:
Mitral Valve Stenosis and Regurgitation
Aortic Valve Stenosis and Regurgitation
Tricuspid Valve Stenosis and Regurgitation
