{"product_id":"2940046533743","title":"Heart Valve Diseases, A Simple Guide to These Conditions","description":"\u003cp\u003eHeart valve diseases are outside the field of most family doctors because of the difficulty in the treatment. It is more of a cardiologist’s field.\u003cbr\u003eHowever the sounds of the heart murmurs and heart clicks still fascinate me.\u003cbr\u003eWhat is important from a family doctor’s perspective is to differentiate the heart valve diseases and send them for treatment.\u003cbr\u003eI have specifically devoted a chapter to differential diagnoses of the heart valve diseases.\u003cbr\u003eProper treatment of the heart valve diseases is important.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe human heart has four chambers which are the two superior atria and two inferior ventricles.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe atria are the receiving chambers and the ventricles are the discharging chambers\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDeoxygenated blood flows through the heart in one direction, entering through the superior vena cava into the right atrium and is pumped through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle before being pumped out through the pulmonary valve to the pulmonary arteries into the lungs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe oxygen is absorbed from the air sacs of the lungs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt returns from the lungs through the pulmonary veins to the left atrium where it is pumped through the mitral valve into the left ventricle before leaving through the aortic valve to the aorta\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 4 valves are in order of blood flow:\u003cbr\u003e1. Tricuspid\u003cbr\u003e2. Pulmonary\u003cbr\u003e3. Mitral\u003cbr\u003e4. Aortic\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe valve is like a tap in the blood circulation pump in the heart.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNormally, these valves open to let blood flow through or out of your heart, and then shut to keep it from flowing backward.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn heart valve disease, blood can leak back through the valve in the wrong direction, which is called regurgitation\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne of the valves, the mitral valve, sometimes has floppy flaps and does not close tightly.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is called mitral valve prolapse, and it is one of the most common heart valve conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSometimes it causes regurgitation\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen the valve does not open enough and blocks blood flow, it is called stenosis\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat are the types of heart valve disease?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTypes of valve disease:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e1. Aortic valve disease\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ea. Aortic regurgitation\u003cbr\u003eb. Aortic stenosis\u003cbr\u003ec. Aortic sclerosis\u003cbr\u003ed. Bicuspid aortic valve\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e2. Mitral valve disease\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ea. Mitral regurgitation\u003cbr\u003eb. Mitral stenosis\u003cbr\u003ec. Mitral valve prolapse\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e3. Pulmonary valve disease\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ea. Pulmonary regurgitation\u003cbr\u003eb. Pulmonary stenosis\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e4. Tricuspid valve disease\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ea. Tricuspid regurgitation\u003cbr\u003eb. Tricuspid stenosis\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAll valve diseases can be acute or chronic.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat are the causes of Heart Valve Disease?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCauses:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eValve problems can be caused by:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e1. Congenital or present at birth\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCongenital heart valve disease often involves pulmonary or aortic valves that do not form properly.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThese valves may have inadequate tissue in the flaps.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThey can be the wrong size or shape\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThey can lack an opening through which blood can flow properly.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e2. Infections such as:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ea. Rheumatic fever\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUntreated streptococcus throat or other infections with strep bacteria that progress to rheumatic fever can cause heart valve disease.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the body’s fight against the streptococcus infection, one or more heart valves may be damaged or scarred in the process.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe most affected are aortic and mitral valves.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSymptoms of heart valve damage often do not appear until many years after recovery from rheumatic fever.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eb. A rare but serious infection called infective endocarditis or IE allows the germs to enter the bloodstream through needles, syringes or other medical devices and through breaks in the skin or gums.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrequently the body's defenses is able to fight off the germs and no infection occurs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSometimes these defenses fail, which leads to IE.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIE can develop in people who already have abnormal blood flow through a heart valve as the result of congenital or acquired heart valve disease.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe abnormal blood flow causes blood clots to form on the surface of the valve.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe blood clots make it easier for germs to attach to and infect the valve.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIE can worsen existing heart valve disease.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kenneth Kee","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47108549148912,"sku":"2940046533743","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940046533743_p0.jpg?v=1764002072","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940046533743","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}