Facing the option of whether to suffer surgery or not is concerning enough in itself. But, when it is related to your heart, it carries even more weight and concern. If you have been diagnosed as having aortic valve stenosis, you maybe considering whether heart valve replacement surgery is the proper choice for your situation. However, to make an educated call, one must understand what aortic stenosis is and how it has effects on your heart and body.

The aortic valve controls the flow of oxygenated blood from the left ventricle into the aorta. The aorta is the biggest vessel in the body which transports blood from the heart to the body and it’s main organs. When one develops aortic valve stenosis, the opening that permits the blood to flow from the heart into the aorta begins to narrow. This narrowing causes the heart ( especially the left ventricle ) to compensate by working/pumping harder to maintain blood flow from within in to the body. Without treatment (like heart valve replacement) the left ventricle will increase in size and thickness due to the added stress of working against the narrow opening. The heart itself may simply be able to support this self-induced compensatory action for a period of years, left untreated it’ll eventually give way to heart failure.

The progression of aortic valve stenosis is relatively slow. Many of us might have insignificant cases of aortic stenosis, but with the body’s capability to compensate, may not realize they have a problem till symptoms of this disorder happen. Symptoms that accompany aortic stenosis and eventually lead to heart valve replacement include chest pain especially with exercise, extreme wooziness following activity, irregular pulse rate, tremors and/or difficulty breathing. After symptoms happen, the only true treatment is surgery. These symptoms indicate that damage to the valve has occurred and the debate about replacement is imperative.

While most doctors agree that it’s way better to hang about for surgical intervention till symptoms develop, there are the few individuals that may gain benefit from heart valve replacement before symptom display. Folks that suffer from aortic stenosis run a higher possibility of unexpected death due to the chance of heart failure. But, signs of heart failure customarily precede a fatal event. However, thereis a small number of folk that can suffer with severe stenosis without presenting with symptoms. One indicator might be linked to individuals that develop low blood pressure during or following exercise. This can suggest possible aortic valve stenosis and these individuals should seek medical recommendation as fast as possible. The decision about surgery will be a mixed effort between the patient and the numerous expert doctors planning and implementing the medical care.

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