Pre-Treatment
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Pre-Treatment
– Medication
– Shared Decision Making
– Patient Perspective
– The Multidisciplinary Team
– Family, Friends & Carers

Heart Valve Disease
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Heart Valve Disease – Overview

The Condition – Overview
– Aortic Stenosis
– Aortic Regurgitation
– Mitral Regurgitation
– Tricuspid Valve Disease
– Bicuspid Aortic Valve
– Endocarditis
– Related Illnesses
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Pre-Treatment
Treatment
After Care
Materials
Patient Stories
Know Your Heart

Medication for Heart Valve Disease

Heart valve disease cannot be reversed with medication alone. In the long-term, the only effective solution is to undergo a surgical repair or replacement.

Sometimes, medication or balloon valvuloplasty may be considered the best course of action if the patient’s symptoms are currently mild or if replacement is no longer an option.

In some cases, medications may be prescribed for patients with valvular disease to:

  • Reduce unpleasant symptoms that accompany milder forms of the disorder
  • Maintain heart rhythm if a related arrhythmia is present
  • Lower the patient’s risk for clotting and stroke

The following are examples of medication you could be prescribed.

These are vasodilators, which means it opens blood vessels more fully and can help reduce high blood pressure and slow heart failure.

These help to restore or maintain a normal rhythm to the heartbeat.

These help to prevent the onset of infections post-treatment.

These are ‘blood thinners’. They reduces the risk of developing blood clots from poorly circulating blood around faulty heart valves. Blood clots are dangerous because they could lead to a stroke. They are often prescribed to patients who have had a mechanical valve fitted.

These can reduce the hearts workload as the help thee heart beat slower. Some patients find them helpful for reducing palpitations, and controlling heart rate.

These are also knows as ‘water pills’. The reduce the amount of fluid in the tissues and bloodstream which can lessen the workload on the heart.

As for the ace inhibitors, these can lower the heart’s workload by opening and relaxing the blood vessels; reduced pressure may encourage blood to flow in a forward direction, rather than being forced backwards through a leaky valves.

Tips for family, friends and carers

Patients should not drink alcohol when taking certain medicines. Always double check with their GP or Pharmacist.

Pre-Treatment
QUICK LINKS

Pre-Treatment
– Medication
– Shared Decision Making
– Patient Perspective
– The Multidisciplinary Team
– Family, Friends & Carers

Heart Valve Disease
QUICK LINKS

Heart Valve Disease – Overview

The Condition – Overview
– Aortic Stenosis
– Aortic Regurgitation
– Mitral Regurgitation
– Tricuspid Valve Disease
– Bicuspid Aortic Valve
– Endocarditis
– Related Illnesses
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Pre-Treatment
Treatment
After Care
Materials
Patient Stories
Know Your Heart

Patient Story: Ian

These days I’m surrounded by my beautiful wife, my two beautiful daughters, Emma and Sophie, and our three grandchildren, Oscar 7, Aoife 4 and Reggie 3. Due to being on warfarin, I’ve had to give up playing football and my hopes and dreams of playing for Liverpool, and instead become a dedicated follower of Northwich Victoria – which I’ll take.

Read Ian’s story in full…