Heart Valve Disease

The heart is the most important organ of our body. Pumping out blood that is purified day in and day out and keeping the blood circulation well in place, the fist-sized organ is life’s biggest sustainer. Pumping out blood through the valves to the arteries to each capillary and thus reaching out blood to the tiniest cell of our body, our hearts are more than responsible for each one of us being up and about. Valves make sure that blood flows in only one direction.

How do the valves get affected?

As we grow old, our body ages with us. The heart and its connected parts also gradually start performing at a much slower rate than before. The valves are tubes that take the purified blood from the heart to the different parts of the body or the impure blood towards the heart for purification. Over a period of time, calcium builds up on the inner surface of these valves restricting blood inflow and outflow and affecting the normal working of the valves.

Heart valve disease

Narrowing of the valve opening can occur, which results in a condition known as Stenosis. Stenosis limits the blood flow. Stenosis is generally found in elderly people and gradually occurs over a period of time. Another valve disease that can occur is where the valve openings to do not close properly resulting in blood flowing backward and building pressure on the heart and lungs. This is called as Valvular insufficiency and can result in malfunctioning of the organ leading to its enlargement and weakening and eventually result in failure. The diseases may occur also because of infection, inflammation of tissues, diseases or simply due to high pressure on the heart due to stress situations. Valve diseases can be congenital or later acquired in life.Treatment

Valve diseases can be treated either through medication or surgery or both. In case, the valves need to be replaced, it is possible through valve devices that prevent accumulation of calcium. The best advice would be from your doctor for all such treatments. Once you cross a certain age in your, you must start taking your heart seriously, not just for love, but for your good life as well.