In aortic valve disease the left ventricle, which is the lower left chamber of heart, malfunctions. Blood flows from the heart’s left ventricle which is the main artery of your body to your aorta.
One type of this disease is called aortic stenosis, where the valve opening becomes narrower with calcification (mild, moderate and severe), which then restricts blood flowing into the aorta. The other type is aortic regurgitation where the valve leaks blood back into the left ventricle since it does not close properly and tight enough.
Each of these types of aortic valve conditions have different symptoms. With aortic stenosis one can experience rapid or fluttering pulse, fatigue, swollen ankles and shortness of breath, while with the regurgitation type there may be coughing, heart palpitations and fainting, mostly with physical exertion. People that have had rheumatic fever, scarlet fever or a congenital heart defect present at birth are more at risk, but this disease takes a number of years to show up, with symptoms in your adult life.
Aortic valve disease treatment includes medications to help reduce the effects, but there is currently no medication to stop the issue entirely. Surgery can be performed, such as replacement of the valve from human donors, larger animals like cows and pigs, as well as a mechanical valve option.