Heart Valve Disease

During a physical examination, a healthcare provider may find these signs of heart valve disease:

Fluid in your lungs
An enlarged heart
A heart murmur, which could mean blood is moving through a narrow or leaky valve
Swelling in your ankles

Several medical tests can also show heart valve disease. Repeating tests over time can help your provider see the progress of your valve disease and make decisions about your treatment. Valve disease can get worse over time. You may hear a provider describe valve disease with a letter for its stage. Stages start with A and end with D, which is the most severe.

What tests will be done?

Tests for heart valve disease diagnosis include:

Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) — A moving image of your heart using sound waves from a handheld wand placed on your chest
Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) — An ultrasound of your heart that uses a probe with a transducer down your esophagus, which sits very close to your heart
Exercise stress echocardiogram — A test that shows how your valves and heart function after you walk on a treadmill or ride a bike.
Chest X-ray — A quick X-ray scan of your chest.
Cardiac catheterization (angiogram) — X-ray movies of your coronary arteries, heart chambers and heart valves.
Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) — Small electrode patches attached to your skin record your heart’s electrical activity.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) — Radio waves and a magnet work together to create high-quality images of your heart.

Symptoms

When to see a doctor

Request an appointment

Complications

Blood clots are a dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Blood clots can lead to stroke.

The risk of stroke from AFib increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase the risk of a stroke due to AFib. These conditions include:

High blood pressure.
Diabetes.
Heart failure.
Some types of heart valve disease.

Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation.

Prevention

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:

Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Don't smoke or use tobacco.
Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Reduce and manage stress.

By Freedmans Health Clinic Staff

Living with atrial fibrillation?

Connect with others like you for support and answers to your questions in the Heart Rhythm Conditions support group on Freedmans Health Clinic Connect, a patient community.