Your heart works around the clock to keep blood moving throughout your body. Four valves help make that happen by opening and closing with each heartbeat. But if one of those valves isn’t working the way it should, your heart may have to work harder to keep blood flowing.

That’s what can happen if you have aortic valve disease. Some people have the condition for years without knowing it, but as it gets worse, it can affect how well blood moves out of the heart and may cause symptoms that shouldn’t be ignored.

The Role of Your Aortic Valve

The aortic valve sits between the heart’s lower left chamber and the aorta, the large artery that carries blood from your heart to the rest of your body. Each time your heart beats, the valve opens to let blood out, then closes to keep blood from flowing backward.

Aortic valve disease occurs when the valve doesn’t open or close properly, putting extra strain on your heart. Two common types are:

• Aortic stenosis: The valve becomes narrowed and doesn’t open fully. This limits blood flow and makes the heart work harder to pump blood through the valve.
• Aortic regurgitation: The valve doesn’t close tightly, allowing some blood to leak backward into the heart.

Signs and Symptoms to Watch For

Aortic valve disease doesn’t always cause symptoms, especially in its early stages. But as the condition gets worse, you may notice:

• Shortness of breath, especially during activity
• Chest pain or tightness
• Dizziness or fainting
• Fatigue or weakness
• A fast or irregular heartbeat
• Swelling in the ankles or feet
• Difficulty doing activities that used to feel easy

These symptoms can have many causes, but don’t assume they’re simply a normal part of getting older. Tell your doctor if you notice new or worsening symptoms.

Treatment for Aortic Valve Disease

If you’ve been diagnosed with aortic valve disease, treatment depends on which type you have, how severe it is and whether you’re having symptoms.

If your valve disease is mild and isn’t causing symptoms, your doctor may just recommend routine checkups and testing to watch for changes. If you have some symptoms or heart-related problems, medications may be prescribed to help manage them. If the disease is severe, the valve may eventually need to be repaired or replaced.

For severe aortic stenosis, one treatment option is a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). This procedure uses a thin, flexible tube inserted through a blood vessel in the groin to guide a replacement valve to the heart. Because TAVR doesn’t require opening the chest, recovery is typically faster than with traditional heart surgery, but it isn’t right for everyone. Surgical aortic valve replacement may be recommended for some people instead. Your doctor will consider your age, overall health, valve anatomy and other factors when deciding which treatment is best for you.

If you notice that you’re more tired, short of breath or unable to do activities as easily as you once could, tell your doctor. Finding aortic valve disease and monitoring it closely can help you get the care you need before the condition puts too much strain on your heart.

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