What is valvular heart disease?

Valvular heart disease refers to conditions that affect the valves of the heart. The heart has four valves, and each one is designed to work like a one-way door. The valves open to allow blood to flow through, and then close immediately to prevent blood from flowing back into the chamber it just left.

When there is a problem with one or more of the heart valves, the valve may become leaky or narrowed: a condition known as stenosis. Identifying these problems is important because they can lead to a variety of heart conditions, including congestive heart failure and pulmonary edema. Problems with the heart valves can also increase the risk of infections affecting the valves.

Because the heart valves play such an important role in how the heart functions, evaluating their structure and function is an important part of a patient’s initial cardiac evaluation.