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What are the
signs of failing Aortic Valve?
A failing aortic valve may cause a
variety of symptoms including shortness of
breath, chest pain (angina pectoris), and
dizziness or loss of consciousness (passing
out).
A narrow valve makes the heart work
harder just to pump the blood through the
valve to the body. A leaky valve lets blood
back into the heart after it has been pumped
out. The heart must therefore pump more
blood forward to make up for the blood that
is leaking backwards. Either way the extra
work may cause symptoms of heart failure,
such as shortness of breath. Early on the
shortness of breath may be noticeable only
with exercise. Later, with the progression
of valve disease, a patient could experience
shortness of breath with even light activity
or at rest. Some patients will be unable to
sleep flat in bed or may awaken from sleep
short of breath. Another sign of heart
failure that may occasionally occur is
swelling of your feet, particularly
prominent later in the afternoon or evening
although other conditions, such as varicose
veins, can also cause this to occur.
The extra work the heart has to perform
may also cause chest pain or angina pectoris
similar to the symptoms of a heart attack.
It may be difficult to tell the difference
between heart valve disease and narrowing of
the blood vessels to the heart itself
(coronary arteries).
Aortic valve disease may also cause
dizziness, light headedness or even fainting
spells. |
