Living Life Fully with Pulmonary Valve Disease in Central California
Like all of your valves in your heart, the your pulmonary valve pushes your blood through your body. The pulmonary valve is the door through which blood flows throughout the heart and lungs.
Pulmonary valve disease can damage the valve and interfere with blood flow. Your Dignity Health Central California cardiologist can diagnose whether your pulmonary valve is damaged and allowing blood to flow backward.
Find a Doctor who offers cardiac care with dignity and respect to help identify your risk factors for pulmonary valve disease in Central California.
Understanding the Types of Pulmonary Valve Disease at Dignity Health Central California
There are two main types of pulmonary valve disease. Pulmonary valve regurgitation refers to leaking valves. Pulmonary stenosis is valve narrowing, obstruction, or stiffening. It is one of the valve problems seen in infants born with a complex heart defect called Tetralogy of Fallot.
Pulmonary hypertension is high blood pressure within the pulmonary artery. This type of high blood pressure can cause pulmonary valve disease.
Our heart doctors can help get the to bottom of what’s causing your pulmonary valve disease. We diagnose a range of cardiovascular conditions with a philosophy of dignity and respect.
Watching for Pulmonary Valve Disease Symptoms
When your doctor listens to your heart, they check to hear if there is a whooshing sound, which can mean a leaky pulmonary valve. It is rare that you will have symptoms. You likely will not know that you or your child have this condition until your doctor makes a diagnosis.
If left untreated and in advanced stages, pulmonary stenosis may lead to:
- Low tolerance for exercise
- Shortness of breath or skin turns blue around the lips
- Listlessness
- Inability to gain weight
- Chest pain
- Fatigue
Dignity Health Central California offers an online heart risk assessment to help you learn more about your heart health. If you have pulmonary artery disease, our heart team will provide care with humankindness.
Pulmonary Valve Disease Treatment
Cardiovascular treatments are not required for most cases of pulmonary valve disease. Pulmonary regurgitation as the result of pulmonary hypertension may require you to take medication. It is very rare to have heart valve surgery to replace a pulmonary valve unless your condition is severe or caused by a specific condition.
Talk to a doctor for a personalized treatment plan to effectively treat pulmonary valve disease in Central California.
Dignity Health Central California cardiac care offers quality treatment options for pulmonary valve disease in Bakersfield, Merced, San Andreas, and Stockton, CA.