How is heart valve disease (valvular heart disease) treated?
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Not all valvular heart disease needs treatment, although treatment may become more necessary over time. Changing lifestyle factors is often the first step, including quitting smoking, exercising, and eating a healthy diet. Medications are used to prevent blood clots and thin blood, especially when valves have been artificially replaced, prevent irregular heartbeats, get rid of excess fluid that often accompanies heart failure, and lower cholesterol and blood pressure. When valvular heart disease becomes severe, heart valve repair and replacement may be necessary. There are different ways to repair and replace valves as well as different models of replacement valves.
Not all valvular heart disease needs treatment, although treatment may become more necessary over time. Changing lifestyle factors is often the first step, including quitting smoking, exercising, and eating a healthy diet. Medications are used to... More -
Johns Hopkins Medicine answered:The following provides an overview of the treatment options for valvular heart disease:
- Don't smoke; follow prevention tips for a heart-healthy lifestyle. Avoid excessive alcohol consumption, excessive salt intake and diet pills-all of which may raise blood pressure.
- Your doctor may adopt a "watch and wait" policy for mild or asymptomatic cases.
- A course of antibiotics is prescribed prior to surgery or dental work for those with valvular heart disease, to prevent bacterial endocarditis.
- Long-term antibiotic therapy is recommended to prevent a recurrence of streptococcal infection in those who have had rheumatic fever.
- Antithrombotic (clot-preventing) medications such as aspirin or ticlopidine may be prescribed for those with valvular heart disease who have experienced unexplained transient ischemic attacks, also known as TIAs (see this disorder for more information).
- More potent anticoagulants may be prescribed for those who have atrial fibrillation (a common complication of mitral valve disease) or who continue to experience TIAs despite initial treatment. Long-term administration of anticoagulants may be necessary following valve replacement surgery, because prosthetic valves are associated with a higher risk of blood clots.
- Balloon dilatation (a surgical technique involving insertion into a blood vessel of a small balloon that is led via catheter to the narrowed site and then inflated) may be done to widen a stenotic valve.
- Valve surgery to repair or replace a damaged valve may be necessary. Replacement valves may be artificial (prosthetic valves) or made from animal tissue (bioprosthetic valves). The type of replacement valve selected depends on the patient's age, condition, and the specific valve affected.
The following provides an overview of the treatment options for valvular heart disease: Don't smoke; follow prevention tips for a heart-healthy lifestyle. Avoid excessive alcohol consumption, excessive salt intake and diet pills-all of which may... More -
Dr. Stephen R Hazelrigg of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons answered:There are four valves in the heart and all can have this disease. By far, the valves on the left side of the heart are the most likely to produce a problem. These valves are the aortic valve (between the pumping chamber in the heart and the large artery blood is pumped into) and the mitral valve (between the collecting chamber and pumping chamber on the left). Valve problems may be due to stenosis, or abnormal narrowing, which causes the valve opening to be constricted and limits blood flow across it. Another possibility is that the valve may leak, increasing the heart’s workload. Treatment depends on which valve is affected and the severity of the problem.
For leaking valves, patients can sometimes be treated with medication that will cause a dilation or enlargement of the arteries promoting more blood flow forward, and restrictions on salt and fluid intake. While this treatment usually does not fix the leakage, it can reduce the symptoms.
If valve disease is severe enough, then surgery is the ultimate treatment. Valve replacement may be required; or the valve (especially the mitral) may be able to be repaired. Valve repair is preferred, if possible, because it seems to result in better long-term outcomes. If a replacement is required, then the surgeon can choose between a mechanical valve that will last forever but likely will require the patient to take blood thinner, or a bioprosthetic valve (made out of real tissue) that does not require a blood thinner but will eventually wear out.
There are some ways to stretch open stenotic valves; however the long-term results have not be great and this is usually only done in patients considered too high risk for surgery. There are also some studies that are looking at ways to address leaking valves, and even to replace valves with catheters through the groin or smaller incisions just below the rib cage. These treatments are still experimental and not generally available.Helpful? 1 person found this helpfulThere are four valves in the heart and all can have this disease. By far, the valves on the left side of the heart are the most likely to produce a problem. These valves are the aortic valve (between the pumping chamber in the heart and the large... More -
American Heart Association answered:Yearly check-ups with your doctor, medicine and living a healthy lifestyle may be all that’s needed.
- In some cases, an operation may be needed to repair a damaged valve.
- Sometimes the valve must be taken out and replaced with a new, artificial one. Ask your doctor about the different kinds used.
Helpful? 1 person found this helpfulYearly check-ups with your doctor, medicine and living a healthy lifestyle may be all that’s needed. In some cases, an operation may be needed to repair a damaged valve. Sometimes the valve must be taken out and replaced with a new,... More -
Dr. William D. Knopf of Piedmont Heart Institute answered:The goals of heart valve disease treatment are to:
- Prevent, treat, or relieve the symptoms of other related heart conditions.
- Protect your valve from further damage.
- Repair or replace faulty valves when they cause severe symptoms or become life threatening. Man-made or biological valves are used as replacements.
Prevent, treat, or relieve the symptoms of other related heart conditions
To relieve the symptoms of heart conditions related to heart valve disease, your doctor may ask you to quit smoking and follow a healthy eating plan low in salt, cholesterol, and fat.
People who have heart valve disease are commonly prescribed medicines to:
- Treat heart failure. Heart failure medicines widen blood vessels and rid the body of too much fluid.
- Lower blood pressure or blood cholesterol levels.
- Prevent irregular heartbeats.
- Thin the blood and prevent clots (for people who have man-made valves). These medicines also are prescribed for mitral stenosis or other valve defects that make you prone to developing blood clots.
This answer from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute has been reviewed and/or edited by Dr. William D. Knopf.
The goals of heart valve disease treatment are to: Prevent, treat, or relieve the symptoms of other related heart conditions. Protect your valve from further damage. Repair or replace faulty valves when they cause severe symptoms or become life... More -
Dr. David Adams of The Mount Sinai Medical Center answered:Treatment for valvular heart diseases can be either medical using medications (usually to control symptoms or to unload the strained heart muscle), interventional (using heart catheterization guided procedures) or surgical via an open heart surgery. The choice of the treatment modality depends on the severity, location and type of valve disease whether stenosis or regurgitation.
Valves can be replaced with artificial valve prosthesis (either mechanical valves that necessitate placing the patient on lifelong blood thinner with the associated risks of bleeding and/or clots, or formation or using animal or human tissue valves that deteriorate in function over time necessitating repeat heart surgery). Valves can also be repaired. Fixing the valve and retaining the person's own tissues is considered the biological solution for valvular heart diseases particularly in mitral regurgitation due to mitral valve prolapse. Valvular heart surgery can be recently performed via less invasive approaches with less trauma, pain and faster recovery.
Treatment for valvular heart diseases can be either medical using medications (usually to control symptoms or to unload the strained heart muscle), interventional (using heart catheterization guided procedures) or surgical via an open heart surgery.... More
