VALVULAR HEART DISEASE.

VALVULAR HEART DISEASE.

It has become one of the most common heart disease affecting millions of people world wide.

The heart is a connection of valves; the valves are continuous with the endocardium which lines the chambers of the heart. The mitral valve and the tricuspid valve lie in the artrioventricular fibrous ring, they shut when the pressure in the ventricles is rising so that the blood does not regurgitate into the atrium, pulmonary valve, the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery, and the aortic valve between the left ventricle and the aorta remains shut until the ventricular pressures exceed the pressures in the arterial side of the valve.

TYPES OF VALVULAR HEART DISEASE.

Pulmonary stenosis –It is a congenital deformity that could be an isolated lesion but more commonly found in association with ventricular septal defect.

Pulmonary incompetence – In this condition the blood tends to leak due to fault valve that does not tightly close. The disease is associated with pulmonary hypertension in which the pulmonary artery dilates dilation of the right ventricle leads to an enlarged orifice from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery.

CAUSES OF VALVULAR DISEASE.

• Congenital lesions may affect pulmonary valve, aortic and tricuspid valve.

• Syphilis affects the aortic valve.

• Rheumatic endocarditis.

• Subacute bacterial endocarditis.

• Trauma may rupture valves.

• Stenosis.

• Cholesterol.

SYMPTOMS OF VALVULAR DISEASE.

• Stenosis – this is thinning and hardening of valve’s cusp leading to overall reduction in the cross sectional area of its open orifice.

• Pulmonary incompetence.

• Subacute bacterial endocarditis.

• Rheumatic endocarditis.

• Heart failure cardiac arrest.

• Aortic dissection.

TREATMENT OF VALVULAR HEART DISEASE.

There are many defects that are associated with the heart valves and the presence of one or more defects brings about stress and strain on the heart which must work too hard to maintain a steady supply of the blood.

• Valves are repaired by special procedures.

• Adhered cusps and fibrosed valve rings can be dealt with by valvotomy.

• Prosthesis involves complete replacement of valves.

• Cardiac arrythmia and palpitations are treated with suitable drugs.

• Heart failure is treated with drugs, diet, enough rest and supply of oygen to relieve the work load of the heart. After recovery the patient should accept to live within the limits imposed by the condition to avoid becoming a chronic cardiac invalid.

• Anticoagulants – This are drugs used in treating valvular disease complications more so artery emboli.

• Infections of the lungs must be avoided and treated as soon as it appears.

• Abortion to terminate pregnancy may be carried out or pregnancy dealt with a lot of care and caution.

• Conservative treatment where surgery is not suitable due to age factor and as the state of the patient.

• Valvular lesion patients are advised not to engage in heavy manual work.