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

Untreated heart valve disease can lead to other illnesses. The best way to avoid related illnesses is to monitor your symptoms closely, that way you can see how they progress.

It is therefore crucial that all heart valve disease patients use our Symptom Tracker App to monitor their symptoms. Patients should report changes to their symptoms to their clinician.

Click here to print our PDF Symptoms Tracker.

Atrial fibrillation, AF for short, is a heart condition that causes an irregular or abnormally fast heart rate.

Symptoms:

  • Dizziness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Tiredness
  • Heart palpitation/fluttering or irregular beating

Contact your GP if you are experiencing any of these symptoms. Medication can be prescribed to help prevent the chances of stroke and control your heart rate.

Click here to read more.

Heart failure can develop quickly or gradually over weeks.

Symptoms:

  • Breathlessness
  • Feeling tired during exercise
  • Swollen ankles and legs

See GP if the symptoms worsen. If you experience sudden or severe symptoms call 999 immediately.

Symptoms:

  • Arthritis symptoms of swelling/painful joints.
  • Heart inflammation which results in shortness of breath, persistent cough, rapid heartbeat, feeling tired and chest pain.
  • Syden ham’s chorea

Staph infection is caused by Staphylococcus bacteria. It usually affects the skin and will usually go away with time, but sometimes it will need to be treated with antibiotics. It can rarely cause blood poisoning or toxic shock syndrome.

Symptoms:

  • Painful red lumps or bumps
  • Hot, res and swollen skin
  • Sores, crust or blisters
  • Sore, red eyelids or eyes.

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, killing brains cells. This effects how the body works and can change how you think and feel.

Symptoms:

  • Face – Has one side of their face dropped? Can they smile or side of the mouth dropped down?
  • Arms – experiencing numbness in their arms and not being able to lift their arms.
  • Speech – Slurred speech or understanding of what is being said by others.
  • Time – If you see these signs call 999 immediately.

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: Sandra

Sandra Holder’s job in retail meant she was on her feet for much of her day, so it wasn’t a surprise when she started to experience swollen ankles and feet. It wasn’t until she was diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis and was told that she was at high risk of heart failure within two years if she was not treated, that she realised it was something she should have paid more attention to. Sandra’s story serves as a warning for others of the importance of having your heart checked regularly. 

Read Sandra’s story in full…