Valvulopathies

Valvulopathies are diseases that affect the heart valves, causing them not to function properly.

The 4 valves of the heart are: the tricuspid, mitral, pulmonary and aortic valves, which open and close whenever the heart beats, allowing blood to circulate. When these valves are injured, two types of problems can arise:

• Stenosis: when the valve does not open correctly, preventing the passage of blood;
• Insufficiency: when the valve does not close properly, causing reflux of blood.

Rheumatic fever can cause rheumatic valve disease, which can occur due to birth defects in the heart valves, age-related changes, endocarditis or lupus.

The symptoms of heart valve diseases are the presence of heart murmurs, fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain or swelling. Many individuals have heart valve disease, but they have no symptoms, nor do they have any heart problems. However, in other individuals, valvulopathy can slowly worsen over the course of life, causing serious heart problems such as heart failure, stroke, blood clots or sudden death from cardiorespiratory arrest.

The goal of treatment of heart valve diseases is to reduce the evolution of heart failure and prevent complications. The cardiologist is the specialist indicated to diagnose and indicate the best treatment for the individual with valvulopathy.

Aortic valve disease

Aortic valve disease is a lesion in the aortic valve, located on the left side of the heart, that allows blood to pass between the left ventricle and the aortic artery. The symptoms of the disease get worse over time, and in the early stages it may be palpitations and shortness of breath, while in the more advanced stages heart failure, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, angina pectoris and nausea may appear.

The treatment consists of rest, food without salt and use of diuretic, digitalis and antiarrhythmic remedies. In the most severe cases, surgery may be necessary to replace the aortic valve.

Mitral valve disease

Mitral valve disease is the most common and arises due to lesions in the mitral valve, which is located between the ventricle and the left atrium of the heart. The most common symptoms of this disease may be a feeling of shortness of breath, coughing, fatigue, nausea, palpitations and swelling of the feet and legs.

Some medications such as diuretics, anticoagulants, antibiotics and antiarrhythmics are indicated for the treatment of the disease because they regulate heart rate and function. The repair of the damaged valve through cardiac catheterization and the surgical replacement of the valve with a prosthesis, can be used as treatment in the most severe cases.

Pulmonary valve disease

Pulmonary valve disease arises due to lesions in the pulmonary valve that is located on the right side of the heart and that allows blood to pass from the heart to the lung. This disease is less frequent and is usually due to birth defects in the heart.

The symptoms of the disease only appear in advanced stages and can be swelling of the legs, muscle fatigue, shortness of breath and episodes of heart failure. Treatment always consists of surgery to treat the injury or replace the valve.

Tricuspid valve

Tricuspid valve disease occurs in the tricuspid valve located between the ventricle and the right atrium, which allows blood to pass between these two sites of the heart. Tricuspid valve disease usually arises due to infections such as rheumatic fever or endocarditis and pulmonary arterial hypertension.

The most common symptoms of this disease are weight gain, swelling in the legs, belly pain, tiredness and, in more advanced cases, shortness of breath, palpitations and angina pectoris. Its treatment consists of the use of diuretic drugs, antibiotics and, in severe cases, surgery may be necessary to repair or replace the valve.

Useful link:

• Rheumatic fever

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