The heart is the most essential organ of your body. Four our survival, it must work properly. If not, we may die. The heart maintains the blood circulation in our body and has four chambers, classified as two atrium and two ventricles. For the management of blood flow in the right direction, there are four valves, named as the mitral valve, tricuspid valve, aortic valve, and the pulmonary valve.
The mitral valve is also known as the bicuspid valve. It regulates the blood flow between the left atrium and left ventricle. Moreover, the tricuspid valve manages the blood flow between the right atrium to the right ventricle. The aortic valve regulates the blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta. Lastly, the pulmonary valve regulates the blood flow from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery. Any problem that occurs in these valves is known as valvular diseases of the heart. If you are diagnosed with any heart condition, you will also be asked to get a CT scan in Islamabad.
Symptoms
Many people do not have any signs and symptoms of valvular heart disease, while some may represent with the complaints that resemble that of congestive heart failure. The person may survive for many years without any symptoms. But at times, it may hinder with day to day activities. Valvular disease of the heart may show signs and symptoms like;
Chest pain
Dizziness
Shortness of breath on little exertion
Cough that becomes worse upon lying down
Palpitations
Increased heart rate
Abnormal heart rhythm
Edema mostly in feet and ankles
Fatigue
Abdominal swelling
Rapid weight gain
Fever due to bacerial endocarditis
Heart murmur-abnormal sound that a doctor can hear by putting a stethoscope on your chest.
Causes
There may be various causes of valvular heart disease. Mostly it is congenital-present at birth. But some times it may occur due to other reasons like;
Degeneration of the heart valve occurs with age.
Rheumatic fever can cause diseases of the heart valves.
Endocarditis- a bacterial infection of the inner lining of the heart that damages the valves
Uncontrolled hypertension and atherosclerosis can also damage the heart valves.
A heart attack may also damage the heart valves by causing muscle damage.
Carcinoid tumors
Rheumatoid arthritis
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Syphilis
Methysergide- a medication that is prescribed to treat migraine headaches, but it can also cause valvular heart diseases.
Radiation therapy (that patients having cancer receive) can cause diseases of the heart valves.
Prevention
Since rheumatic fever can cause endocarditis that damages the heart valves, you must try to prevent it. If you are having repeated sore throat with fever, you must visit a healthcare provider soon. They may prescribe you antibiotics that prevent the infection from causing rheumatic fever.
You must also keep your blood pressure under control to prevent valvular diseases of the heart. To lower the risk of hypertension, heart attacks, and atherosclerosis, you must;
Quit smoking
Do not drink alcohol.
Do physical activity for at least thirty minutes a day.
Eat a diet low in salt and sugar.
Lose pounds if you are overweight.
Follow the instructions that your healthcare provider advises.
Conclusion
Valvular diseases of the heart are mostly congenital. But they may occur at any age. They may not show any signs and symptoms. However, if you ever get symptoms like breathlessness, pounding of heart, and cough, you should consider getting a CT scan in Lahore.
