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Valvular Heart Disease

About Valvular Heart Disease

Valvular heart disease is the name given to any disorder that is characterized by damage or a defect in one of the four valves of the heart: the mitral, aortic, tricuspid or pulmonary.

There are two types of valve problems that Long Island cardiologists encounter:

  • Valve stenosis whereby the valve is narrowed and cannot open fully
  • Valve regurgitation: more commonly referred to as a leaky valve occurs when the valve cannot close properly and the blood flows backwards.

While all four of the valves can be affected, the mitral and aortic valves tend to be the most affected. As a result of valvular heart disease, the heart is forced to pump blood harder, putting a strain on the heart. You may experience one or more of the following symptoms if you are suffering from valvular heart disease:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting
  • Fatigue
  • Abnormal heart beat and palpitations
  • Swelling in the legs, ankles, abdomen
  • Chest pain or angina
  • Rapid weight gain
  • Fever associated with bacterial endocarditis

Heart doctors in Long Island have identified a number of conditions that can cause valvular heart disease. These include:

  • Degeneration of the heart structures, particularly with age
  • Rheumatic disorders that develop after an episode of rheumatic fever
  • Deposition of calcium in the valves
  • Congenital heart disorders
  • Bacterial endocarditis
  • Heart attack
  • Carcinoid tumors
  • Syphilis
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus
  • Drugs such as methysergide
  • Radiation therapy used to treat cancer

In the early stages of symptomless valvular heart disease your vascular doctor in Long island may not prescribe any treatment. However, if you develop symptoms, you may require medications to relieve the symptoms and prevent further complications. Individuals with valvular heart disease are prescribed antibiotics before dental and surgical procedures to prevent the development of bacterial endocarditis. Some individuals with valvular heart disease experience unexplained attacks of ischemia. In these patients, antithrombotics may be prescribed.

A variety of surgical procedures, with high success rates, are available to repair or replace the valves.

Frequently Asked Questions – Valvular Heart Disease West Babylon

Is Valvular Heart Disease something that I should be worried about?

There are many symptoms of valvular heart disease that should cause an individual to seek an expert cardiologist that range from shortness of breath, to chest pains, and heart palpitations. Because of the large number of risk factors that can cause valvular heart disease, it is normal to be concerned if you are displaying one or more symptoms. If you notice that you are displaying symptoms of valvular heart disease, contact our office to schedule an evaluation with our expert cardiologists.

How can Valvular Heart Disease be detected?

In order to determine whether or not you have a type of valvular heart disease, contact our office to schedule an appointment with our premier cardiovascular doctors. During your consultation we will review your medical history with you in detail and perform an evaluation of your hearts overall health. Once we have determined the best tests for you to take to get a better understanding of how your heart is functioning, we may recommend one or several cardiac tests. This may require you to make a repeat visit to our office depending on the type of tests that we need to schedule. To learn more about valvular heart disease, please contact our office and set up your appointment today.

Are there any treatments that can be done to stop Valvular Heart Disease?

Yes, but if you are in an early stage of valvular heart disease when you are not showing any symptoms you may not neat to take action, this is why it is best to get a complete evaluation from one of our cardiologists. When symptoms develop, we have a variety of treatment plans to suit each individual’s specific needs. There are also several surgical procedures that are performed by our cardiologists that can repair or replace the valves of the heart and restore them to normal function.

What is the root cause of Valvular Heart Disease?

Valvular heart disease is a complex condition that can arise in your heart for many different reasons. Issues such as degeneration from age, deposition of calcium, bacterial endocarditis, carcinoid tumors, and syphilis all can contribute to valvular heart disease. If you have any of the conditions of valvular heart disease and are experiencing one or more symptoms, please contact our office to schedule a consultation with our cardiologists. We are the premier cardiovascular testing facility in West Babylon on Long Island and our doctors are extremely experienced with all matters pertaining to heart health.

When I look for a place to get tested for Valvular Heart Disease West Babylon has several cardiology offices, why should I choose Rybstein Medical?

We offer premier cardiovascular care for our patients on Long Island at our state of the art facility. Our office has the latest equipment a relaxing, spa-like environment. There are several exam and testing rooms to ensure short wait times, and all of our equipment is the latest in cardiac testing technology. Our expert cardiologists are extremely experienced and our office in West Babylon is easily accessible from many surrounding towns on Long Island. Schedule your appointment with Rybstein Medical today.