Symptoms
How We Can Help You
Normally, the four valves of your heart ensure blood flows properly. Valve glitches, such as regurgitation (leaking) and stenosis (narrowing), can interfere with this function, however.
While these changes do not always cause symptoms, you should see a specialist for diagnosis and possible treatment, if you suspect a problem. Our valve team has the training and experience to protect your heart from damage. We offer advanced imaging and minimally invasive treatments, with a focus on innovation to improve care.
We provide heart valve care through Stanford Interventional Cardiology, the TAVR Program, Valvular Heart Disease Clinic, and Heart Surgery.
WHAT WE OFFER YOU FOR HEART VALVE DISEASE
- Nationally recognized expertise in treating stenosis and regurgitation in any heart valve, as well as congenital problems present since birth.
- Precise and timely diagnosis, with a streamlined and thorough evaluation process that includes advanced 3-D imaging of the valve.
- Team-based planning to create a tailored approach for your needs, including frequent meetings among top interventional cardiologists, surgeons, and others.
- Advanced treatments, including specialized mitral valve repairs, next-generation replacement valves, and techniques, such as TAVR, that avoid surgery.
- Comprehensive support, including diet and exercise recommendations to treat or prevent some of the risk factors for valve disease.
- Active research program, with a focus on expanding the use of minimally invasive treatments that access the heart through arteries rather than surgery.
INTERESTED IN AN ONLINE SECOND OPINION?
The Stanford Medicine Online Second Opinion program offers you easy access to our world-class doctors. It’s all done remotely, and you don’t have to visit our hospital or one of our clinics for this service. You don’t even need to leave home!
Visit our online second opinion page to learn more.
Treatment for Heart Valve Disease
Our valve team brings together a range of experienced specialists, providing care tailored to your needs. Our doctors and imaging specialists take the time to meet face-to-face and discuss your results. Our approach ensures we pinpoint and understand the problem, so we can recommend the best care for you.
For minor valve changes, you may just need occasional checkups, and possibly medication. For more severe disease, especially when it affects your daily life or threatens your heart, your care plan may require a minimally invasive procedure or surgery.
If you need heart valve repair or replacement, we consider the least invasive option first
Treatment Overview
Specialized Care for Women
Treatment recommendations depend on your preferences, overall health, and specific diagnosis. Additional information about treatment options for specific heart valve conditions is available through the links below.
Aortic Valve Disease
- Aortic stenosis
- Aortic regurgitation
- Congenital aortic valve disease such as bicuspid aortic valve and Ebstein's anomaly
Mitral Valve Disease
- Mitral valve stenosis and regurgitation
- Mitral valve prolapse, also known as click-murmur syndrome, Barlow's syndrome, balloon mitral valve, or floppy valve syndrome
Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Tricuspid atresia: This condition occurs when there is no tricuspid valve, and therefore, no blood flows from the right atrium to the right ventricle.
- Tricuspid valve stenosis: This condition is characterized by a narrowing or blockage of the tricuspid valve, resulting in impaired blood flow between the upper-right and lower-right chambers of the heart.
- Tricuspid valve regurgitation: This condition occurs when there is a backflow of blood from the lower-right chamber (the right ventricle) to the upper-right chamber of the heart (the right atrium).
Failure of Replacement Valves
Many replacement valves are bioprosthetic, meaning they come from animal tissue and naturally wear down over time. In many cases, we can perform a second replacement using a minimally invasive technique. We have extensive experience doing these procedures for aortic valves, as well as mitral valves. We access your heart through an artery or vein near the groin rather than through the breast bone in the chest. This approach is less invasive and not widely available.
Pulmonary Stenosis
Pulmonary stenosis is a congenital condition diagnosed in childhood. It is characterized by a pulmonary valve that does not open sufficiently, causing the right ventricle to pump harder and enlarge. Care and treatment for this condition is provided by the Stanford Children's Heart Center.
At Stanford, we understand that women with heart valve disease have different health needs than men. The specialists at our Women’s Heart Health Clinic recognize the unique concerns women face, including:
Diagnosis
Many younger women are diagnosed with heart valve disease during pregnancy. Pregnancy causes the body to pump more blood to support the growing baby. This increased work on the heart may create symptoms, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, lightheadedness or dizziness. This may be a sign that the heart is having an abnormal heart rhythm, or arrhythmia, which could be related to a failing valve. These symptoms may not be noticeable before pregnancy and can alert women or their doctors to the presence of heart valve disease.
Alternatively, many older women are misdiagnosed because their symptoms (such as fatigue and dizziness) may mimic those that are common during menopause. At Stanford, we use advanced diagnostic imaging tests to detect any heart valve issues in women of all ages.
Treatment
Women are three times more likely than men to have mitral valve stenosis (narrowing of the mitral valve). We have advanced treatment options for this form of heart valve disease, including treating the valve with or without open heart surgery.
Family planning
When planning your treatment, our doctors take into account if or when you want to get pregnant. Repairing or replacing heart valves may require surgery and a replacement mechanical or bioprosthetic (from an animal) valve. We work with you to time replacing valves around pregnancy, whenever possible.
Some medications for heart valve disease are not safe to take when pregnant or breastfeeding. Our doctors can provide alternative drugs to keep you and your baby healthy.
Research
There is little specific research on heart valve disease in women. At Stanford, we conduct research and clinical trials to learn more about the unique health needs of women and put our findings into practice.
Treatment recommendations depend on your preferences, overall health, and specific diagnosis. Additional information about treatment options for specific heart valve conditions is available through the links below.
Aortic Valve Disease
- Aortic stenosis
- Aortic regurgitation
- Congenital aortic valve disease such as bicuspid aortic valve and Ebstein's anomaly
Mitral Valve Disease
- Mitral valve stenosis and regurgitation
- Mitral valve prolapse, also known as click-murmur syndrome, Barlow's syndrome, balloon mitral valve, or floppy valve syndrome
Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Tricuspid atresia: This condition occurs when there is no tricuspid valve, and therefore, no blood flows from the right atrium to the right ventricle.
- Tricuspid valve stenosis: This condition is characterized by a narrowing or blockage of the tricuspid valve, resulting in impaired blood flow between the upper-right and lower-right chambers of the heart.
- Tricuspid valve regurgitation: This condition occurs when there is a backflow of blood from the lower-right chamber (the right ventricle) to the upper-right chamber of the heart (the right atrium).
Failure of Replacement Valves
Many replacement valves are bioprosthetic, meaning they come from animal tissue and naturally wear down over time. In many cases, we can perform a second replacement using a minimally invasive technique. We have extensive experience doing these procedures for aortic valves, as well as mitral valves. We access your heart through an artery or vein near the groin rather than through the breast bone in the chest. This approach is less invasive and not widely available.
Pulmonary Stenosis
Pulmonary stenosis is a congenital condition diagnosed in childhood. It is characterized by a pulmonary valve that does not open sufficiently, causing the right ventricle to pump harder and enlarge. Care and treatment for this condition is provided by the Stanford Children's Heart Center.
close Treatment Overview
At Stanford, we understand that women with heart valve disease have different health needs than men. The specialists at our Women’s Heart Health Clinic recognize the unique concerns women face, including:
Diagnosis
Many younger women are diagnosed with heart valve disease during pregnancy. Pregnancy causes the body to pump more blood to support the growing baby. This increased work on the heart may create symptoms, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, lightheadedness or dizziness. This may be a sign that the heart is having an abnormal heart rhythm, or arrhythmia, which could be related to a failing valve. These symptoms may not be noticeable before pregnancy and can alert women or their doctors to the presence of heart valve disease.
Alternatively, many older women are misdiagnosed because their symptoms (such as fatigue and dizziness) may mimic those that are common during menopause. At Stanford, we use advanced diagnostic imaging tests to detect any heart valve issues in women of all ages.
Treatment
Women are three times more likely than men to have mitral valve stenosis (narrowing of the mitral valve). We have advanced treatment options for this form of heart valve disease, including treating the valve with or without open heart surgery.
Family planning
When planning your treatment, our doctors take into account if or when you want to get pregnant. Repairing or replacing heart valves may require surgery and a replacement mechanical or bioprosthetic (from an animal) valve. We work with you to time replacing valves around pregnancy, whenever possible.
Some medications for heart valve disease are not safe to take when pregnant or breastfeeding. Our doctors can provide alternative drugs to keep you and your baby healthy.
Research
There is little specific research on heart valve disease in women. At Stanford, we conduct research and clinical trials to learn more about the unique health needs of women and put our findings into practice.
close Specialized Care for Women
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may have access to the latest, advanced clinical trials.
Open trials refer to studies currently recruiting participants or that may recruit participants in the near future. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but similar studies may open in the future.
To schedule an appointment with the Interventional Cardiology clinic or TAVR program, please call 650-725-2621.
To schedule an appointment with the Valvular Heart Disease Center, please call 650-723-6459.
To schedule an appointment with the Interventional Cardiology clinic or TAVR program, please call 650-724-7500.
What Is Heart Valve Disease?
Our Clinics
We provide exceptional heart care that starts with understanding that women are different than men. We treat the whole woman, using evidence-based approaches to prevent and treat high cholesterol and heart disease.
3rd Floor, Clinic A31
Stanford, CA 94305
Phone: 650-723-6459 Getting Here
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