Valvular Heart Disease

Any cardiovascular disease that affects one or more of the heart’s four valves is called valvular heart disease. These problems are most commonly caused by age, but they can also be caused by congenital (inborn) abnormalities or particular diseases or physiologic processes such as rheumatic heart disease and pregnancy. The valves are anatomically part of the thick connective tissue of the heart, known as the cardiac skeleton, and govern blood flow through the heart and major arteries. Valve failure or malfunction can impair heart function, albeit the specific repercussions depend on the kind and degree of valvular illness. Damaged valves can be treated with medicine alone but are commonly repaired or surgically replaced.