This condition is where the valves in your heart that control the free flow of blood are not working properly.
The way in which a healthy heart operates is the same for everyone.
The blood flows through both your right and left atria into the ventricles through the mitral and tricuspid valves.
When the ventricles start to contract, the aortic and pulmonic valves are forced to open.
Once the ventricles are done contracting and begin to relax, both the valves are shut.
There are two main types of heart valve disease.
Valvular stenosis occurs when one or more valves are narrowed, stiffened, thickened or blocked. It can lead to the heart pump insufficiency, and there'll be a lack of blood on different body parts. All four of the heart valves can develop stenosis.
This happens when a heart valve does not seal or close properly, allowing some blood to be forced or leak back into the chamber. If this condition worsens, it forces the heart to work harder to supply the needed blood to the body.
Other forms can develop during a person’s lifetime.
This form of the condition usually affects the pulmonic or aortic valves.
Sometimes, people are born with bicuspid aortic valve disease; this is where there are only two leaflets instead of three. As a result, the valves are unable to open or close properly or tightly. Acquired valve disease occurs when valves that were normal at birth and in early life have changed or developed complications.
It can happen for a variety of reasons, mainly infections or diseases, including rheumatic fever (caused by an untreated bacterial infection such as strep throat).
Another heart valve disease is known as endocarditis, this occurs when harmful bacteria enters the blood stream and then attacks the heart valves.
This bacterium is often able to enter the blood stream because of IV drug use, dental procedures, surgery, or severe infections.
Another thing that can affect the heart valves are some sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis.
