If you have, you may want to understand more about the condition. Here, we explain what the condition is, how it manifests (symptoms), how your cardiologist has come to the diagnosis, and the treatment of Aortic Stenosis, Oxford.
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Put simply, aortic stenosis is a narrowing of the aortic valve and / or the area immediately around it. This narrowing is caused by a build-up of calcium on the inner wall of the valve and tends to occur as we get older. The condition usually develops slowly over many years.
The aorta is the main artery that takes freshly oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body. To prevent blood flowing the wrong way from the aorta back into the left ventricle, there is a valve at the exit point where the aorta meets the heart. This is the aortic valve.
While Aortic Stenosis is most common in older people, some younger people who have been born with a heart defect may also have the condition. Occasionally it’s also possible to develop the condition if you’ve previously had rheumatic fever.
When the components of the aortic valve thicken and harden, the valve no longer opens properly, restricting the flow of oxygenated blood out of the heart and into the aorta. To compensate, the heart has to work harder to ensure the body receives adequate blood flow. There is also pressure build-up in the heart as it cannot expel enough blood through the aortic valve.
Initially, you may not have any symptoms as your heart simply compensates. However, as aortic stenosis progresses, you may experience the following symptoms, especially during moderate to strenuous activity or exercise.
Chest pain or a feeling of pressure in your chest. It can feel like a tightening in your chest, spreading out to your arms, shoulders, neck and stomach.
Breathlessness during moderate to strenuous activity that’s over and above what’s normal for the level of exercise.
Blackout. This may occur during exertion when the heart is working hard
The symptoms are identical to those of the more common coronary heart disease, and when you visit your cardiologist he or she will check for aortic stenosis.
As the symptoms are very similar to coronary heart disease, aortic stenosis is usually diagnosed with an echocardiogram. This techniques uses ultrasound to actually see the heart working in real time. A sensor is placed firmly against the skin on the chest and moved around to build up an image of the heart and the operation of the valves.
You have three main options:
(follow these links to our Aortic Stenosis site)
A surveillance programme enables your consultant to closely monitor your condition.
The procedure to replace the valve is typically open heart surgery.
TAVI (or TAVR) is a minimally invasive procedure of placing an artificial valve into your heart.
