Aortic Valve Stenosis: Causes and Diagnosis

Aortic stenosis, or aortic valve stenosis, is a heart condition where the opening of the aortic valve is too narrow. The aortic valve is in the major blood vessel of the heart. With a narrow valve, the heart must pump much harder than normal to get blood throughout the body.

Some people are born with aortic stenosis. Others develop it later, after strep throat or scarlet fever. These illnesses can lead to rheumatic fever, which in turn causes this heart condition. Aortic stenosis is not a common condition, but more men have it than women do.

Over time, the condition makes the heart muscle weaker, and some people with the condition feel dizzy or tire easily. This is when the valve needs to be replaced, either through open heart surgery or through the TAVR , or the Trans-catheter Aortic Valve Replacement, procedure.

How do doctors diagnose aortic valve stenosis?

Symptoms of aortic valve stenosis include becoming out of breath, having chest pain, fainting, feeling weak, or a strong, rapid heart beat. Doctors might hear a heart murmur when using a stethoscope.

Doctors diagnose the condition in a variety of ways:

• Chest x-ray
• EKG, ECG (electrocardiogram)
• Exercise stress test
• Heart catheterization
• MRI
• Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)

Replacing the heart valve can cure patients with this condition.

Learn More:

• Trans-catheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) at Rex
• Open Heart Surgery at Rex