Compassionate Care for Aortic Valve Disease in Central California
Valves in your heart push and circulate your blood through your body. Valves open in one direction, stopping the blood from backing up and pushing your blood. Your aortic valve is a one-way “gate” that allows blood to exit the heart and flow to the aorta.
Aortic valve disease causes the valve to actually narrow or stiffen. You may not know that you have this cardiovascular condition. At Dignity Health Central California, our cardiologists can help diagnose aortic valve disease and provide the personal care you need.
Find a Doctor today to receive care with humankindness for aortic valve disease in Central California. Our heart centers are staffed by teams of heart specialists who treat your condition with genuine care, dignity, and respect.
Detecting Symptoms of Aortic Valve Disease at Dignity Health Central California
There are few to no symptoms from aortic valve disease. Chest pain or pressure or feeling like your heart is pounding are a few of the symptoms of aortic valve disease.
Your Dignity Health Central California doctor will listen to your heart and may detect a murmur or whooshing sound. This could be a sign of aortic valve disease. Some people are born with this condition. Other people may develop aortic valve disease from aging, either through weakening of the valve tissue or calcium deposits.
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is another cause of this condition. Additionally, infections of your valve, aortic stenosis, or congestive heart failure lead to the disease.
Take our online heart risk assessment to determine your risk factors.
Aortic Valve Disease Treatment for Your Healing
Your Dignity Health Central California doctor will prepare a personalized treatment plan that will depend on your type of of aortic valve disease.
When your valve doesn’t shut tight, regurgitation occurs and your blood will flow backward instead of pushing through your body. Your Dignity Health Central doctor may prescribe medication when this type of aortic valve disease is mild. Heart valve repair or replacement surgery will be recommended for more advanced cases.
When your valve opening narrows because the tissue has become stiff and thick, you have aortic valve stenosis. Your doctor will monitor this condition closely until it becomes more serious and surgery is recommended.
Prevention is an important factor in decreasing your diagnosis of aortic valve disease. Your doctor will recommend treatment for other health conditions such as hypertension and high cholesterol. Ways to keep your heart healthy includes exercise and a healthy diet.
To learn more about prevention and treatment for aortic valve disease in Central California, make an appointment with one of our experts today.
Dignity Health Central California’s heart doctors provide care with humankindness for aortic valve disease in Bakersfield, Merced, San Andreas, and Stockton, CA.