Acıbadem Maslak Hospital Cardiology Specialist Prof. Dr. Aleks Değirmencioğlu, Pointing out that heart valve-related diseases can lead to serious life-threatening problems, "In patients diagnosed late, serious problems such as arrhythmia and heart failure may develop as a result of deterioration of heart functions. For early diagnosis, people who get tired more quickly than normal, have shortness of breath or feel palpitations during daily activities such as walking, climbing stairs and hills should definitely consult a doctor. "With correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment at an early stage, patients can live a healthy life," he says. It also indicates that heart valve diseases can sometimes progress for many years without symptoms. Prof. Dr. Aleks Değirmencioğlu, “For this reason, if it is not checked with echocardiography, the problem may not be detected and it may be too late for treatment. Therefore, even if there are no complaints, it is very important for every person to have their heart checked at least once in their young ages and at regular intervals after the age of 40,” he says.
Heart valve diseases according to their severity: It is divided into three groups: mild, moderate or severe. The first symptoms of advanced valve diseases are complaints such as fatigue and palpitations. As the process progresses, valve disease puts extra strain on the heart, causing shortness of breath that initially occurs with exertion, but if not intervened, progresses and occurs even at rest. It may also cause palpitations, chest pain or fainting. However, sometimes valve disease can be detected incidentally when a murmur is heard while the heart of a patient who consults a physician for any health problem or check-up before the symptoms begin.
The most common cause in our country is joint rheumatism!
The structures inside our heart that prevent blood from flowing back while passing through the heart chambers are called 'heart valves'. There are four valves on the left and right sides of the heart. Valve diseases; This can be in the form of narrowing of the valves, valve insufficiency, or a combination of both. Joint rheumatism, which may occur after bacterial throat infection during childhood and young adulthood, and congenital abnormalities are the most common causes of valve disease. Cardiology Specialist Prof. emphasizes that calcification-related valve diseases are more common in older ages. Dr. Aleks Değirmencioğlu said, “As the population ages, the frequency of valve diseases due to calcification increases. In addition, collapse of the valves as a result of abnormality in the valve structure is one of the common causes of valve disease in both young and older ages. "However, rheumatic valve diseases have tended to decrease relatively as the sociocultural level increases compared to previous years," he says.
Permanent damage to the heart is prevented!
Heart valve diseases can be easily detected by cardiological examination and heart ultrasound called echocardiography. Cardiology Specialist Prof. Dr. Aleks Değirmencioğlu points out that in case of serious valve problems, if the patient's complaints have started or if a certain level of deterioration has occurred in the heart, intervention must be made and says, "The two most important goals in the treatment are to relieve the patient's complaints and prevent irreversible damage to the heart." Stating that the treatment of valve diseases is carried out by angiographic or surgical intervention to the valve. Dr. Aleks Değirmencioğlu says that while it may sometimes be possible to repair the valve, in many patients the worn valve must be replaced with a biological or mechanical artificial valve.
Regular check-up after treatment is a must!
After timely and appropriate valve intervention, patients can continue their almost normal lives. Prof. Dr. Aleks Değirmencioğlu states that it is very important to have regular check-ups after the treatment and to avoid very heavy exercises, and says, "In addition, patients treated with mechanical valves must use a blood thinning medication that needs to be monitored regularly."
