The valves of heart are tricuspid valve, pulmonary valve, mitral valve and aortic valve. These heart valves are flaps like structures which open and close with each heart beat. They help the flow of the blood in correct direction through the chambers of the heart and the rest of the body. Inflammation of the heart valves is called endocarditis.

Causes of heart valve disease

• Birth defects

• Age related changes

• Infections like syphilis

• Autoimmune disease like Libman-Sacks endocarditis and hypereosinophilic syndrome.

• Medications like ergotamine derivatives like pergolide, cabergoline

• Rheumatic fever is the most common cause of valvular heart disease.
  

Signs and symptoms

• Chest pain
• Palpitations
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Difficulty in breathing
• Low or high blood pressure

Types of heart valve disease

• Regurgitation or back flow which occurs when a valve does not close tightly. In this condition the blood will leak in to the chamber instead of flowing to the heart or the artery. This mainly affects the mitral valve
• Stenosis: In the condition the flaps of the valve are thicken, stiffen or fuse together. This prevents the heart valve from opening fully and thereby there will be no enough blood flowing through the valve.
• Atresia: It occurs when the heart valve lacks opening for blood to pass through the valves.

Other types of heart disease

Congenital heart valve disease is the valvular disease which occurs before birth. It commonly involves pulmonary and aortic valves.

Acquired heart valve disease: In this the heart valve is normal at first. Later it can produce problems due to disease. This type commonly involves aortic and mitral valves.

Complications of valvular disease

• Heart failure
• Stroke
• Blood clots
• Sudden death
• Cardiac arrest

Tests and diagnosis

• Electrocardiogram
• Chest x-ray
• Cardiac catheterization
• Transesophageal echocardiogram
• Radionuclide scans
• Magnetic resonance imaging.

Treatment

• Medications like beta blockers, digoxin, and calcium channel blockers.
• Medications to control blood pressure like diuretics, vasodilators
• Surgical treatment like heart valve repair or heart valve replacement.