Strong Heart and Vascular Center

Valvular Heart Disease

Functional Problems

If the heart valves become damaged or diseased, they may not function properly. Dysfunction of heart valves may be either stenotic (stiff) or insufficient (leaky). When one (or more) valve(s) becomes stiff, or stenotic, the heart muscle must work harder to pump the blood through the valve. Some reasons that heart valves become stenotic include rheumatic fever and aging. If one or more valves become leaky, or insufficient, blood leaks backward, which means that less blood is pumped in the proper direction.

Symptoms of Valvular Heart Disease

Valvular heart disease may cause the following symptoms:

• Dizziness
• Chest pain
• Breathing difficulties
• Palpitations
• Edema (swelling) of the feet, ankles, or abdomen
• Rapid weight gain due to fluid retention