What is heart valve disease?

Heart valve disease happens when one or more of the valves in your heart don’t work as they should. These valves act like small doors, opening and closing to keep blood moving in the right direction. When they don’t function properly, blood flow through the heart can become disrupted.

Sometimes a valve doesn’t close all the way, allowing blood to leak backward. In other cases, the valve becomes stiff or narrow, making it harder for blood to pass through.

Possible causes and risk factors:

• Natural aging changes in the heart
• Heart disease or prior heart attack
• Infections affecting the heart valves
• Congenital (present at birth) valve abnormalities
• History of rheumatic fever
• Connective tissue disorders
• Prior radiation therapy to the chest

Symptoms

Heart valve disease may develop slowly, and some people don’t notice symptoms right away. As the condition progresses, signs can become more noticeable.

Common symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath during activity or rest
• Feeling unusually tired
• Chest discomfort
• Irregular or rapid heartbeat
• Dizziness or fainting
• Swelling in the legs, ankles, or abdomen

How is it diagnosed?

Your provider may first notice a heart valve problem by listening to your heart and detecting an unusual sound, called a murmur. To better understand what’s happening, additional testing is usually needed.

An echocardiogram is the most common test and uses sound waves to create images of the heart and valves. Other tests—such as an electrocardiogram (ECG), chest X-ray, or advanced imaging like CT or MRI—may also be used to evaluate heart structure and function. In some cases, a stress test or cardiac catheterization helps provide more detailed information.

How is it treated?

Treatment depends on how severe the condition is and how it’s affecting your daily life.

For mild cases, your provider may recommend regular monitoring. Medications can help manage symptoms by controlling heart rate, blood pressure, or fluid buildup.

If the valve problem becomes more serious, procedures may be needed. These can include:

• Repairing the existing valve
• Replacing the valve with a mechanical or tissue valve
• Minimally invasive catheter-based procedures
• Balloon treatments to open narrowed valves

Many people experience significant symptom relief after treatment, though ongoing follow-up care is important.