KNOW YOUR HEART

Decoding the structure and function of the heart is indeed very interesting. Heart valve disease refers to any of several conditions that prevent one or more of the valves in the heart from functioning adequately to assure proper circulation. On each side of the heart, the atrium and ventricle are separated by a valve. Blood is pumped through the right atrium and ventricle and out of the heart through the pulmonary valve, then on to the lungs to be oxygenated. This blood then returns to the left side of the heart. It is then pumped through the aortic valve into the main artery (the aorta) and around the body. The essential function of a heart valve is to maintain the flow of blood in the right direction. When the left ventricle has contracted fully and pumped the…

AORTIC STENOSIS – THE NARROWER THE VALVE, THE HARDER THE HEART HAS TO WORK

WHAT IS AORTIC STENOSIS?

In a patient with aortic stenosis, the aortic valve no longer opens fully. Its opening is restricted as the leaflets of the valve become stenosed (narrowed) over time. This makes it harder for your heart to pump blood through the valve and around your body. The narrower the valve, the harder the heart has to work and worse the symptoms are likely to be. Read more…

SYMPTOMS OF AORTIC STENOSIS

Aortic stenosis is one of the most common and serious heart valve disease problems. Treatment depends on how far the disease has progressed. Read more…