Aortic Stenosis: Aortic Stenosis Overview, Symptoms, Causes
Your heart works hard every second of the day, pumping the necessary amount of blood throughout your body. It has four valves that play an important role in that process, one of which is called the aortic valve.
The aortic valve has thin leaflets of tissue that open and close when the heart beats to regulate blood flow. Aortic stenosis occurs when the leaflets of the valve become stiff, which causes a narrowing of the aortic valve opening. As the opening becomes smaller, it makes it harder for the heart to pump blood out to the rest of the body, which can affect your health.
Aortic stenosis is considered a progressive disease, which means it gets worse overtime. Your doctor will measure your aortic stenosis as mild, moderate, or severe. If the aortic stenosis is considered mild or moderate, the decrease in blood flow is usually not significant enough to cause symptoms. In fact, many people are unaware they have the condition or may be told they have a heart murmur during a routine check-up.
You may need replacement of your aortic valve if you have progressive heart failure due to aortic valve stenosis. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a procedure that replaces a diseased aortic valve with a man-made valve.
As the leaflets become stiffer, the opening of the valve becomes more narrowed and your heart muscle may get weaker. Once your valve condition is considered severe, you may notice uncomfortable symptoms.
These symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Chest pain
- Dizziness/lightheadedness
- Swollen feet and ankles
Patients often express concern that it is harder for them to participate in regular activities like walking to get the mail, climbing stairs, or performing household chores.
It is important to tell your doctor if you have symptoms. Evidence shows that after the onset of symptoms, patients with severe aortic stenosis have a survival rate as low as 50% at two years and 20% at five years without aortic valve replacement.
There are four main causes of aortic stenosis:
- Calcium Build
As we age, aortic stenosis is caused by a buildup of calcium, which is a mineral found in your blood on the valve leaflets. - Birth Defects
A normal aortic valve contains three leaflets. However, sometimes people are born with a valve that has one, two or four leaflets. When defects are present, the aortic valve may leak and this can cause valve problems. - Rheumatic Fever
Sometimes strep throat can lead to rheumatic fever which can cause scar tissue to form within the heart. When this happens, the valve may not be able to open and close as it should. - Radiation Therapy
Inflammation and scar tissue can develop after receiving radiation therapy. This can make the valve stiff and unable to function properly.
