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Aortic stenosis Causes and Risks:
Aortic stenosis is caused by many disorders. One cause is rheumatic fever . Other causes include calcification of the valve and congenital abnormalities. There may be a history of other valve diseases, coronary artery disease , or heart murmur.
Aortic stenosis occurs in approximately 5 out of 10,000 people. It is more common among men. Symptoms often do not appear until middle age or older.
Prevention:
Aortic stenosis cannot be prevented, but some of the complications can be.
Notify the health care provider or dentist about any history of heart valve disease before treatment for any condition. Any dental work, including cleaning, and any invasive procedure, can introduce bacteria into the bloodstream. This bacteria can infect a weakened valve causing endocarditis .
Follow the provider's treatment recommended for conditions that may cause valve disease. Treat strep infections promptly to prevent rheumatic fever . Notify the provider if there is a family history of congenital heart diseases .
Symptoms:
Note: Aortic stenosis may show no symptoms until late in the course of the disease.
Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:
Signs and Tests:
Examination shows a palpable chest thrill or heave (vibration or movement felt by holding the hand over the heart). There is almost always a heart murmur, click, or other abnormal sounds on auscultation (examination of the chest with a stethoscope). There may be faint pulses or changes in the quality of the pulse in the neck (the change in pulse is known as pulsus tardus). Blood pressure may be low.
Aortic stenosis and/or enlargement of the left ventricle may be revealed on: An ECG may show left-ventricle enlargement or arrhythmias (unusual pattern of heart beats) such as ventricular tachycardia or sinus bradycardia.
This disease may also alter the results of the following:
Treatment:
If there are no symptoms or symptoms are mild, only observation may be required. If symptoms are mild to severe, hospitalization may be required. Medications may include diuretics, digoxin, and other medications to control heart failure . Symptomatic people may be advised to avoid strenuous physical activity . People with symptoms of aortic stenosis ( difficulty breathing , chest pain , syncope ) should have a physical exam every 6 to 12 months, and an ECG performed every 1 to 3 years.
Surgical repair or replacement of the valve is the preferred treatment for symptomatic aortic stenosis.
Prognosis:
Aortic stenosis is curable with surgical repair, although there may be a continued risk for arrhythmias . The person may be symptom-free until complications develop. Without surgery, probable outcome is poor if there are signs of angina or heart failure .
Complications:
Call Your Healthcare Provider:
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if symptoms indicate aortic stenosis may be present.
Call your health care provider if aortic stenosis has been diagnosed and symptoms worsen or new symptoms develop.
This is a cross-sectional view of the interior of the heart. The valves, chambers, and associated vessels are labeled.
This is an illustration of the exterior of the heart. The arteries are colored blue and represent blood that is flowing into the heart. The veins are red and indicate blood flow out from the heart. The chambers are also labeled.
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