A clear guide to valve health
Heart Valve
Disease
Four valves coordinate every heartbeat. Learn what happens when a valve becomes narrowed or leaky, how it is diagnosed, and when treatment may be needed.
Anatomy first
Four valves. One direction.
Each valve is a one-way gateway. Select a valve to see its anatomy and role.
Aortic valve
Controls blood flow from the left ventricle into the aorta and onward to the body.
Conventional anatomical plates from Carpentier’s Reconstructive Valve Surgery—not generative-AI imagery.
What can go wrong?
A valve may not open—or may not close.
The pattern of valve dysfunction determines how the heart and circulation are affected.
Stenosis
The opening becomes narrow. Blood must pass through a smaller area, increasing the pressure load on the heart.
Regurgitation
The leaflets do not meet completely. Blood leaks backward, creating extra volume work for the heart.
Common causes include aging and calcification, congenital anatomy, degenerative changes, infection, rheumatic disease, and enlargement of the heart chambers around the valve.
Listen to your body
Symptoms can be subtle—or absent.
How you feel does not always match disease severity. Regular follow-up matters even when symptoms are mild.
Shortness of breath
During activity, at rest, or while lying flat.
Fatigue
Reduced stamina or difficulty with usual activities.
Palpitations
A fast, irregular, or unusually forceful heartbeat.
Swelling
Fluid collecting in the ankles, feet, legs, or abdomen.
Dizziness or fainting
Especially during exertion or with sudden symptoms.
Chest discomfort
Pain, pressure, or tightness—particularly with activity.
From murmur to diagnosis
Imaging turns sound into understanding.
Echocardiography is the central test. Additional imaging is selected when anatomy, severity, or treatment planning needs clarification.
- 01Clinical assessment
Symptoms, examination, blood pressure, rhythm, and heart murmur.
- 02Echocardiography
Valve anatomy, severity, blood flow, chamber size, and ventricular function.
- 03Advanced testing
Exercise testing, transoesophageal echo, CT, MRI, or catheterization when needed.
- 04Heart Team review
Anatomy, symptoms, risk, durability, and the patient’s goals are considered together.
Individualized care
The right treatment at the right time.
The valve involved, disease mechanism, severity, symptoms, heart response, anatomy, other conditions, and personal priorities all influence the plan.
Follow-up
Mild or asymptomatic disease may be monitored with scheduled clinical reviews and repeat echocardiography.
Monitoring intervals are individualized.Medication
Medicines may treat blood pressure, fluid retention, rhythm problems, or clotting risk, but usually do not correct the mechanical valve problem.
Never start or stop medication without medical advice.Repair or replacement
Severe disease may require surgery or a catheter-based procedure. Repair preserves the native valve when durable; replacement uses a biological or mechanical prosthesis.
The best option is chosen through shared decision-making.One decision, multiple perspectives.
Cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, imaging specialists, anaesthesiologists, nurses, and other professionals combine their expertise to identify the safest and most durable strategy for each patient.
Prepare for your visit
Six useful questions to ask.
Which valve is affected, and is it narrowed or leaky?
How severe is the valve disease?
Has it affected the size or function of my heart?
Which symptoms should I report immediately?
How often do I need an examination or echocardiogram?
Would repair, replacement, or a catheter procedure suit me best?
Frequently asked questions
Clear answers to common concerns.
Can heart valve disease exist without symptoms?+
Yes. Some people have no symptoms even when valve disease is important. A heart murmur or imaging test may be the first clue, which is why planned follow-up is essential.
Does every valve problem need surgery?+
No. Mild disease may need observation only. Intervention is considered when disease is severe, causes symptoms, affects the heart, or carries significant future risk.
Can medicine repair a narrowed or leaking valve?+
Medication can reduce symptoms and treat associated conditions, but most structural valve abnormalities cannot be corrected by medicine alone.
What is the difference between repair and replacement?+
Repair reshapes or supports the patient’s own valve. Replacement uses a biological or mechanical prosthesis. The choice depends on anatomy, expected durability, risks, and patient priorities.
Can treatment be minimally invasive?+
For selected patients, surgery can be performed through smaller incisions or treatment can be delivered by catheter. Suitability depends on anatomy, valve type, disease mechanism, and Heart Team assessment.
Guideline-based valve care
Management integrates disease stage, symptoms, ventricular response, multimodality imaging, procedural risk, durability, patient values, and Heart Team expertise.