Understanding Aortic Valve Disease - Aortic Disease Awareness Month

Welcome, everyone! I hope you're having a wonderful day. My name is Alvaro, and today we’re diving into aortic valve disease in honor of Aortic Disease Awareness Month!

What is it?

The aortic valve is one of the four valves of the heart. It sits between the left ventricle and the aorta, the main artery that carries oxygen-rich blood to the body.

🚪 THINK OF THE AORTIC VALVE AS A ONE-WAY DOOR

➡️ It opens to allow blood to leave the heart.

⬅️ It closes to prevent blood from flowing backward.

When the valve does not open or close properly, we call it aortic valve disease.

🔴 AORTIC STENOSIS

The valve becomes too narrow or stiff and cannot open normally.

➡️ Blood has more difficulty leaving the heart.💪 The heart must work harder to push blood through the valve.

🔵 AORTIC REGURGITATION

The valve does not close completely.

⬅️ Blood leaks backward into the heart.💪 Over time, this can make the heart work harder.

🔎 HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED?

Diagnosis starts with a medical evaluation. Your healthcare professional will ask about your symptoms and medical history and may listen to your heart for a heart murmur, which can be a clue that the valve is not working normally.

🩺 THE KEY TEST: ECHOCARDIOGRAM

An echocardiogram (echo) uses ultrasound to create moving images of your heart.

It can help doctors see:

❤️ How the aortic valve opens and closes

➡️ How blood flows through the valve

⬅️ Whether blood is leaking backward

💪 How the heart is responding📏 How severe the valve disease is

🖥️ OTHER IMAGING TESTS

Depending on the findings, your healthcare team may use additional tests such as:

CT scan — provides detailed images of the heart, valve, and aorta and can be especially useful when planning treatment.

Cardiac MRI — provides detailed information about the heart, blood flow, and heart muscle.

The goal of these tests is to understand what is happening with the valve and how it is affecting the heart.

🛠️ WHAT ARE THE TREATMENT OPTIONS?

Treatment depends on the type and severity of valve disease, your symptoms, and how your heart is functioning.

🟢 MONITORINGMild or stable disease may require regular medical visits and follow-up echocardiograms.

💊 MEDICATIONSMedications can help control blood pressure, fluid buildup, or other heart conditions. However, they generally do not correct a severely abnormal valve.

🫀 VALVE REPAIRIn selected patients, the valve may be repaired rather than replaced.

🔄 VALVE REPLACEMENTWhen the valve is severely diseased, replacement may be recommended.

SAVR — Surgical Aortic Valve ReplacementThe diseased valve is replaced during heart surgery.

TAVR — Transcatheter Aortic Valve ReplacementA new valve is delivered through a catheter, usually through an artery, without traditional open-heart surgery.

❤️ The goal of treatment is to protect the heart, relieve symptoms, and restore healthy blood flow.

The right treatment is individualized for every patient.

❤️ KEY TAKEAWAY

Your aortic valve is a one-way door that keeps blood moving in the right direction.

When that door becomes too tight or too leaky, it can affect the entire heart.

Recognizing symptoms, getting evaluated, and following your heart health can make a difference.

THERE IS HOPE. THERE ARE OPTIONS. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

📸 THIS IS WHAT HOPE LOOKS LIKE

Our final reminder for Aortic Disease Awareness Month:

We want to show the people and moments behind aortic disease.

Share a photo that represents:

❤️ Hope

💪 Strength

🌱 Recovery

👨‍👩‍👧 Family

✨ Life after aortic disease

📷 Send us your photo and help us show the world

THIS IS WHAT HOPE LOOKS LIKE

#AorticDiseaseAwareness #AorticValveDisease #AorticStenosis #AorticRegurgitation #ThisIsWhatHopeLooksLike #HeartHealth #TopicTuesday