Valvular heart disease is a condition where one or more valves of your heart fail to work correctly, and as a result, disrupt the blood flow in your body. The disease is dangerous and should be well diagnosed and treated with expertise. In Texas, board-certified cardiologist Bhupinder Singh, MD leads a team of specialists at Heart and Vascular Care to offer treatment options for valvular heart disease in Plano. Here is what you should know about the condition. With the information, you can know when to seek medical attention.

Indicators of Valvular Heart Disease

It is good to know how you can tell if you have valvular heart disease so that you may seek medical attention needed appropriately. The following are some of the symptoms that should alert you to see a doctor.

·       Chest pain

·       Fatigue

·       Shortness of breath, primarily when you lie down

·       Heart murmur sound in your heart beat

·       Abnormal swelling

·       Irregular heartbeat

Regurgitation

This is where the valve flaps fail to close appropriately, forcing the blood to leak backwards. Depending on the place of occurrence, there are different types of regurgitation, including mitral regurgitation, tricuspid regurgitation, aortic regurgitation, and tricuspid regurgitation.

Stenosis

This is where the valve flap thickens and becomes stiff. As a result, the heart valve becomes narrow, decreasing the blood flow. Stenosis can be aortic, mitral, pulmonary, and tricuspid.

Atresia

This is a condition where one or more heart valves do not form correctly, and as a result prevent the blood flow to reach your heart.

You should note that heart valve disease can be present at birth, but for adults, it can result from several factors such as infections and other heart conditions.

How You Can Reduce the Risk of Valvular Heart Disease

One of the significant steps in preventing this condition is getting prompt treatment. A heart-healthy lifestyle and good oral hygiene can also help prevent factors that can cause the disease. The following remedies can help in lowering the chances of having the heart valve disease:

·       Avoiding smoking and alcohol drinking

·       Doing physical exercises beneficial to your heart’s health as guided by a specialist

·       Controlling other conditions that can affect the heart’s health including high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol

·       Avoiding excessive sodium intake

Valvular Heart Disease Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis

At Heart and Vascular Care, Dr. Singh carefully reviews your medical history, discusses your symptoms and lifestyle with you, and conducts a physical examination to look for signs of the disease, such as heart murmur. Where more information is needed, further testing, including the use of an electrocardiogram, cardiac MRI, or echocardiogram may be recommended.

Treatment

Dr. Singh offers a comprehensive approach towards treating heart valve disease. However, this is done according to the severity of your condition and general health. The approach involves combining medications and lifestyle changes, and can also include surgery when necessary.

Surgery options include:

Heart Valve Repair

It involves the separation of the fused valve flaps, replacement of the supporting cords, and excess valve tissue removal. An artificial ring can also be implanted around the valve to reinforce or tighten the natural ring.

Heart Valve Replacement

In cases where the valve is affected beyond repair, the damaged valve can be removed and replaced with an artificial valve. However, such a mechanical valve requires blood-thinning medications to prevent clotting.

Dr. Singh discusses with you all the benefits and risks of each procedure and opts for one that is appropriate for you.

Finally, you can better understand about valvular heart disease only if you speak one on one with a specialist. You can, therefore contact Heart and Vascular Care to book an appointment with Dr. Singh.