How is calcification of the heart valve treated?
The primary option for treatment of calcification of the heart valves is surgery. For certain patients, focused ultrasound could provide a noninvasive alternative to surgery with less risk of complications – such as surgical wound healing or infection – at a lower cost.
What causes calcification of a heart valve?
Most valves become calcified by atherosclerosis, which is a process that causes blockages in the arteries of the heart as well as the rest of the body. An inflammation can occur on the heart valve that leads to a reaction in the blood stream which promotes calcification.
Can you reverse heart valve calcification?
Currently no clinical therapy is available to prevent or reverse this type of vascular calcification. Some possible targets to block and regress calcification include local and circulating inhibitors of calcification as well as factors that may ameliorate vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis [2].
How do you prevent aortic valve calcification?
Managing the symptoms of aortic valve stenosis
- Eat a healthy diet low in saturated fat.
- Exercise regularly.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Abstain from smoking.
- Report any abnormal health issues to your doctor.
- Visit your doctor for any severe sore throat to prevent rheumatic fever.
What are the symptoms of a calcified heart valve?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, a calcified heart valve will lead to valve diseases, which have symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, coughing, heart palpitations, chest pain or tightness and dizziness. You may also suffer from swollen ankles or feet due to fluid buildup.
What causes aortic valve calcification?
This deposition of calcium can be caused due to age factor since the body becomes unable to process calcium and keeps accumulating it in the inner lining of the arteries. Some other causes of aortic valve calcification are smoking, drinking and the presence of huge amounts of cholesterol in the body.
What is the cause of calcification?
Causes of calcification. Many factors play a role in calcification. These include: infections. calcium metabolism disorders that cause hypercalcemia (too much calcium in the blood) genetic or autoimmune disorders affecting the skeletal system and connective tissues.
What causes calcification of heart valve?
These causes include calcification of the heart valve, a defect in the way the valve was formed at birth, and scarring due to illness. Calcification occurs when deposits of calcium, a mineral in the blood, builds up around the aortic valve.
