When discussing valvular heart disease, questions often arise regarding its severity, curability, surgical options, and recovery time. Today, Heart Center, Ramkhamhaeng Hospital provides essential knowledge on valvular heart disease, its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and modern medical treatments that significantly improve patients' quality of life.
The human heart comprises four valves that continuously move and withstand blood pressure. Valvular heart disease (VHD) occurs when one or more of these valves fail to close properly, leading to blood regurgitation. This forces the heart to work harder, pumping and ejecting blood to ensure an adequate supply to the body. Severe cases can be life-threatening due to potential heart failure.
Most cases of valvular heart disease stem from congenital heart defects. However, various other factors can also contribute:
1. Age-Related Degeneration
With aging, heart valve tissues degenerate, and calcium deposits can accumulate on the valves, impairing their proper opening and closing.
Further reading: CT Calcium Score for Coronary Artery Calcification Detection
Rheumatic Heart Disease is caused by throat infections, which subsequently lead to inflammation of the heart muscle, pericardium, and heart valves.
Particularly bloodstream infections, where pathogens can adhere to and inflame the heart valves.
Coronary artery disease can lead to valvular regurgitation and myocardial infarction.
Valvular heart disease often presents asymptomatically in its early stages, requiring regular monitoring by a physician. When symptoms do appear, they can be varied, including easy fatigability, shortness of breath, general weakness, palpitations, and chest tightness. Some patients may experience arrhythmias or a heart murmur. In severe cases, syncope (fainting) may occur alongside other critical conditions.
Diagnosis involves a medical history, physical examination, chest X-ray, electrocardiogram (EKG), and a high-frequency echocardiogram (Echocardiogram) to assess disease severity. If there is a risk of other co-existing heart conditions, the physician may recommend additional tests.
The Heart Center utilizes various technologies for diagnosing heart conditions, depending on the patient's symptoms:
This imaging technique uses high-frequency sound waves to visualize the movement of heart muscles, heart valves, and pressures within the heart chambers. It provides real-time assessment of the heart's physical structure and function.
Cardiac MRI uses magnetic waves (without X-ray radiation) to generate detailed static and moving images of the heart and blood vessels. This non-invasive method does not require inserting any devices into the body.
