Heart valve disease

What is heart valve disease?

The heart has four valves that open and close with each heartbeat to keep blood flowing in the right direction. Valve disease occurs when one or more valves do not work properly, they may become narrowed (stenosis), preventing blood from flowing freely, or they may leak (regurgitation), allowing blood to flow backwards.

Valve disease can be present from birth (congenital) or develop later in life due to wear and tear, infection, or other heart conditions.

Common symptoms

• Shortness of breath, especially during activity or when lying flat
• Fatigue and reduced exercise capacity
• Swollen ankles or feet
• Dizziness or fainting
• A heart murmur detected by your doctor

Some valve conditions cause no symptoms for many years and are found during routine examinations.

How is it diagnosed?

• Echocardiogram: the key test for assessing valve structure and function
• ECG: to check for associated rhythm abnormalities
• CT scan or cardiac MRI: for more detailed anatomical assessment when needed
• Exercise testing: to assess how symptoms relate to physical activity

How is it treated?

• Monitoring: mild valve disease often requires no treatment, just regular follow-up
• Medications: to manage symptoms such as fluid retention or irregular heart rhythms
• Valve repair or replacement surgery: when the valve disease is severe and causing symptoms or affecting heart function
• Transcatheter procedures: minimally invasive valve interventions performed via a catheter in selected patients

How should you prepare?

For any appointment it helps to bring: a list of your current medications and doses; copies or details of any previous heart tests (ECGs, scans, or angiogram reports); a note of your symptoms, when they happen, and what brings them on; and your questions. If you have results from another hospital, ask that clinic to send them ahead of your visit.

When to seek urgent help

If you develop sudden severe breathlessness, fainting, or chest pain, call 999 or 112. These could indicate a serious deterioration in valve function.