A disease related with the blood circulation of human heart, Aortic stenosisis caused when the aortic valve obstructs the blood flow. It may happen if the valve of the heart is not wide enough. The left ventricle of the heart passes the blood to the chief artery called the aorta, by the aortic valve. In a situation when the aortic valve is contracted, it restricts the flow of blood. As a consequence, the heart feels pressurized to supply blood to the other areas of the body. This results in the malfunctioning of the heart and gives rise to a host of other syndromes, which are associated with this disease.
Causes of Aortic Stenosis
The most obvious reason for aortic stenosis in young men is an inborn irregularity of the heart. It is mostly visible in the developed nations. There are some elderly people who contract this ailment after their aortic valve is choked with calcium deposits. Earlier, rheumatic fever was also considered as one of the causes behind this disorder. For detection of this disorder, Echocardiogram is considered the best test procedure available in the current time. In the detection of the calcification of the valve, ECG is effective.
Aortic Stenosis and Symptoms
Sometimes the existence of aortic stenosiscan evade human eyes if the case is a mild one. In that case, there may not be any visible symptom other than tiredness or listlessness. But if the disorder is of a serious type, signs like breathlessness, chest pain, dizziness and palpitation can occur. In certain cases, there may be fluid retention, especially in the legs. These may lead to Congestive heart failure. It happens mostly with men. People who develop CHF due to aortic stenosis face a mortality risk of 50% if their valve is not replaced within a span of 2 years. As a matter of fact, a blend of diastolic dysfunction and systolic dysfunction leads to CHF in a person’s body.
Treatment of Aortic Stenosis
People who are affected by this disorder can resort to use antibiotics before opting for surgeries. If the ailment is in a moderate stage then the use of ACE-inhibitors or diuretics is recommended as it diminishes the chances of heart failure. In the older patients, the replacement of the aortic valve is required when using medicines do not bring the desired results.
For replacing a malfunctioning valve, open-heart surgery is implemented. In this surgery the distressed valve of the heart is replaced with an artificial valve. In some of the more complicated cases, a balloon is put into the valve to increase its width. It is used particularly in those instances where the patient is a child or an infant.
What people can do?
For people who have developed mild to moderate symptoms of aortic stenosis, caution needs to be taken to avoid the infection of the valve. That is why such people are advised to consume antibiotic prophylaxis during the time of some surgical, dental or medical procedures. These surgical methods may comprise of gum surgery, dental extraction, dental implants, prostate surgery, cystoscopy etc
The narrowed aortic valve can significantly reduce the output capability of the heart. Therefore, the afflicted persons can become victims of syncope. They also face threat from abysmally low blood pressure. In such a case, the person must consume some common medications.
