Aortic Disease Awareness Month- Aortic Valve 101
- molly56764
- Sep 15
- 2 min read
The Mighty Aortic Valve – Your Heart’s Gateway!
Picture this: your heart is a rockstar. The right side gathers up all that tired, oxygen-poor blood from your body and ships it off to the lungs. The lungs give it a fresh oxygen makeover, then pass it to the left side of your heart. Now your left ventricle is loaded with oxygen-rich blood and ready to deliver the goods to every muscle and organ.
But before that can happen, there’s a VIP gatekeeper: the aortic valve.
What Is It?
Think of the aortic valve as the door between your heart and the rest of your body. It usually has three delicate flaps (cusps) that open wide when the heart pumps, letting oxygen-rich blood rush into the aorta. Once the heartbeat ends, those cusps snap shut to keep blood from sneaking back in.
When Things Go Wrong
Like any hardworking door, sometimes the valve wears down:
Aortic Stenosis – Over time, calcium can stiffen the valve, narrowing the opening. Blood struggles to get through, forcing the heart to push harder. Symptoms? Chest pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, and if severe, heart failure.
Aortic Regurgitation – Here the valve doesn’t close tightly, letting blood leak backward. That means your heart has to do double duty, leading to fatigue, chest pain, and exercise troubles.
Bicuspid Aortic Valve – Some people are born with only two cusps instead of three. This “two-leaflet” valve works harder than it should and is more prone to stenosis or regurgitation earlier in life.
How Do Doctors Check It?
Your doctor can run tests like echocardiograms, CT scans, or EKGs to see if the valve is too tight, too leaky, or just built differently.
Treatment Options
Mild problems may only need monitoring and meds. But if the valve gets severely narrowed or leaky, doctors may recommend replacement. Options include:
Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement (SAVR) – classic open-heart surgery.
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) – a minimally invasive option using a catheter through your groin, shoulder, or neck.
Which one is best? It depends on your age, overall health, and risk factors.
The Takeaway
Your aortic valve may be small, but it’s mighty—keeping blood moving forward and fueling your body with oxygen. If you ever notice chest pain, dizziness, or unusual fatigue, it’s worth asking your doctor about your valve health.
For more information about the aortic valve and its treatment options, feel free to check out these awesome links!
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