Aortic Stenosis

At Upperhill CardioVascular Center, your vascular and cardiovascular health is our top priority. We stay committed to providing all patients with top-quality, personalized healthcare for any vascular and cardiovascular-related condition, including aortic stenosis.

We understand that a heart-related diagnosis can feel overwhelming. Still, our experienced team offers state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and innovative procedures to address the full spectrum of your specific health condition.

If you or a loved one is living with aortic stenosis or are simply curious about available treatment options, we can help.

Let’s discuss aortic stenosis in further detail, including what it is, its symptoms, and treatment options available to those diagnosed. 

Aortic stenosis is a heart valve disorder characterized by the narrowing of the aortic valve opening, which obstructs blood flow from the left ventricle into the aorta and onward to the rest of the body. This condition can lead to significant heart problems if left untreated.

Causes and Risk Factors:

• • Age-Related Degeneration: In older adults, the aortic valve often becomes calcified and stiffens with age, leading to stenosis.
  • Congenital Heart Defect: Some people are born with aortic valves that have only two cusps instead of the normal three, which can predispose them to stenosis.
  • Rheumatic Fever: Past rheumatic fever can damage the aortic valve and lead to stenosis.
  • Risk Factors: High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and a history of smoking can contribute to the development of aortic stenosis.

Symptoms:

• • Symptoms usually develop gradually and can include shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue, and fainting, particularly during physical activity.
  • In severe cases, the symptoms can lead to heart failure.

Comprehensive treatment of aortic stenosis entails a thorough approach beginning with detailed diagnostic evaluations, such as echocardiography and sometimes cardiac catheterization, to gauge the severity and impact on heart function. For symptomatic severe cases, intervention typically involves either traditional open heart surgery to replace the damaged valve with a mechanical or biological valve or transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for patients at higher surgical risk. Alongside these surgical options, medical management includes medications like diuretics for symptom relief, and lifestyle changes such as a heart-healthy diet and regular exercise. Post-treatment, patients require ongoing follow-up with imaging to ensure valve function, medication adherence, and cardiac rehabilitation to aid recovery. Long-term care also focuses on monitoring for complications and providing education on symptom management and lifestyle adjustments.