The heart is one of the most important organs of the body, and the heart contains four valves (aortic, mitral, tricuspid, and pulmonary). The function of each valve is to open, so that blood can flow out of the heart chambers, and to close so that blood does not flow again in the wrong way. But heart valves can be damaged due to disease, in the series “Check yourself” we learn about the most important medical tests to diagnose heart valve problems, according to the website “healthinaging“.
Heart valve problems
Many heart valve problems are first discovered when your doctor notices an abnormality in your heartbeat or circulation and will likely order some tests to help determine if it’s a sign of a heart valve problem. You’ll be checked for other heart problems, such as heart disease Coronary artery disease or heart failure, or for other diseases that can occur along with heart valve problems, such as diabetes, liver or kidney problems, or high blood pressure.
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
This simple test measures the electrical activity of your heart using wires placed on the chest and other parts of the body. An electrocardiogram can reveal irregular heartbeats, signs of a previous heart attack, and whether your heart’s chambers are enlarged. These changes can be signs of heart valve problems.
Chest X-ray
A chest x-ray can show the size and shape of the heart, lungs, and large blood vessels. A chest x-ray cannot show the internal structures of the heart, such as heart valves, but it can show whether parts of your heart are enlarged, if there are calcium deposits in your heart, or fluid buildup. In your lungs, all of these could be signs of a heart valve problem.
A chest X-ray helps your doctor know what type of valve problem you have, how severe it is, and whether you have any other heart problems.
echocardiogram
This test uses sound waves to create a moving picture of your heart as it beats.
A device called a transducer is placed on the surface of your chest and sends sound waves through the chest to the heart. The echoes of the sound waves are converted into images of your beating heart on a computer screen. These images can show the size and shape of your heart’s valves and chambers, how well your heart is pumping blood, and how well the valves are working.
stress test
A stress test lets your doctor see how your heart works when it’s stressed (working hard) For a stress test, you’ll usually exercise on a treadmill to make your heart work harder while taking pictures of your heart Pictures can be taken with an electrocardiogram or echocardiogram (stress echo) if you can’t From exercise, you may be given medication to make your heart beat faster to simulate the effect of exercise.
These include heart valve problems
Valve stenosis – when the valve does not open wide enough, impeding blood flow
When the valve does not close well and leaks, allowing blood to flow in the wrong direction
The most common heart valve problems in the elderly are:
Aortic stenosis – when blood flow through the aortic valve is partially blocked, reducing blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta and the rest of the body
When blood leaks through the mitral valve from the left ventricle to the left atrium
When blood leaks through the tricuspid valve from the right ventricle to the right atrium
Not all heart valve problems need treatment. Some people may benefit from medications to treat the problem, while others may need a procedure or surgery to fix the problem.
