| There are two types of heart valve disease--heart | | | | Endiocarditis |
| disease resulting from narrowed heart valves, and | | | | Another form of heart valve disease which can result |
| heart disease resulting from leaky heart valves. Each | | | | from infection is endiocarditis. Endiocarditis develops |
| of them stems from several different causes, ranging | | | | when bacteria enters the bloodstream during surgery |
| from birth defects, to bacterial infection, to aging. | | | | or dental procedures, causing inflammation of the heart |
| Congential Heart Valve Disease | | | | and scarring both its valves and leaflets. In the case of |
| Congenital heart valve is the most common, and can | | | | endiocarditis, the scarred leaflets will allow blood |
| result in inflexible or narrowed, or floppy, valves, or | | | | entering the heart to back up, or "regurgitate," |
| irregular valve flaps. Congenital heart valve disease is | | | | diminishing the blood volume within the heart and the |
| often diagnosed within a few days of a baby's birth, | | | | amount of blood and oxygen which reaches the |
| but if the defect is minor, may not be discovered until | | | | body's other organs. For more info see on Congestive |
| much later. Heart valve disease can be very hard to | | | | Heart Disease |
| diagnose because some forms of it do not produce | | | | The elderly are susceptible to heart valve disease |
| symptoms. | | | | resulting from calcification, or calcium deposit buildup, |
| Some people, however, acquire heart valve disease | | | | along the valves. |
| because of complications from another disease such | | | | Testing For Heart Valve Disease |
| as heart muscle disease, coronary artery disease and | | | | Echocardiograms and MRIs are the tests best suited |
| heart attack. A child who has suffered from a | | | | to diagnose heart valve disease. Either one will give |
| rheumatic heart disease because of a simple strep | | | | the cardiologist a good look at abnormalities both in the |
| throat will likely to have a valvular disease when he or | | | | main chambers of the heart and all its smaller |
| she reaches adulthood. | | | | structures including the valves. |
| Heart valve disease, however, can also develop as a | | | | Symptoms of heart valve disease can include vertigo |
| complication from some other illness; children who | | | | resulting from a quick shift of positions, such as |
| have had rheumatic fever following an untreated case | | | | standing up or sitting, heart palpitations or racing, |
| of strep throat have a greater than fifty percent | | | | shortness of breath after minimal activity, and sever |
| chance of developing scarring on their heart valves. A | | | | afternoon fatigue. |
| heart with scarred valves has to work harder than | | | | Those experiencing any of these symptoms on a |
| one with smooth ones, and as the years mount, the | | | | regular basis should arrange to see a cardiologist and |
| extra strain on the heart can lead to rheumatic heart | | | | be tested for a heart murmurs, a strong indication of |
| disease. | | | | heart valve disease. |