What is aortic valve stenosis?
Aortic valve stenosis — or aortic stenosis — occurs when the heart's aortic valve narrows. This narrowing prevents the valve from opening fully, which reduces or blocks blood flow from your heart into the main artery to your body (aorta) and onward to the rest of your body.
When the blood flow through the aortic valve is reduced or blocked, your heart needs to work harder to pump blood to your body. Eventually, this extra work limits the amount of blood it can pump, and this can cause symptoms as well as possibly weaken your heart muscle.
Your treatment depends on the severity of your condition. You may need surgery to repair or replace the valve.
Left untreated, aortic valve stenosis can lead to serious heart problems.
Symptoms
Aortic valve stenosis ranges from mild to severe. Some people with aortic valve stenosis may not experience symptoms for many years.
Signs and symptoms of aortic valve stenosis may include:
- Abnormal heart sound (heart murmur)
- Chest pain (angina) or tightness with activity
- Feeling faint or dizzy or fainting with activity
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Heart palpitations
- Not eating enough (mainly in children with aortic valve stenosis)
- Not gaining enough weight (mainly in children with aortic valve stenosis)
Causes
Aortic valve stenosis can occur due to many causes.
Including:
- Congenital heart defect.
- Calcium buildup on the valve.
- Rheumatic fever.
Risk factors
- Older age
- Certain heart conditions present at birth (congenital heart disease) such as a bicuspid aortic valve
- History of infections that can affect the heart
- Having cardiovascular risk factors, such as diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure
- Chronic kidney disease
Complications
Aortic valve stenosis can cause complications, including:
- Heart failure
- Stroke
- Blood clots
- Bleeding
- Heart rhythm abnormalities (arrhythmias)
- Endocarditis
Source:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/aortic-stenosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353139
