Living with a heart disease

Aortic Valve Disease entails damage to, and dysfunction of the aortic valve, one of the four valves in the heart. If the valve is abnormally narrow the heart must work harder for a sufficient amount of blood to be pumped with each beat. If the valve doesn’t close properly, it may cause aortic regurgitation because some of the blood being pumped out into the aorta regurgitates or leaks backward into the left ventricle with each beat. The work of the ventricle increases and as a result its muscular wall thickens and the left ventricle may become larger. This process of thickening and stiffening in the valve may continue to function adequately for years with nothing more than a heart murmur heard by the physician on examination with a stethoscope. The aortic valve become narrowed and blocked by hard calcified deposits. Severe aortic valve stenosis can cause fainting, heart failure and shortness of breath, and chest pain. Aortic regurgitation is usually asymptomatic until middle age. Patients may present with heart failure or chest pain. Some causes of aortic regurgitation include congenitally bicuspid valves, infective endocarditis, and high blood pressure. Diagnosis of aortic valve disease in many cases can be diagnosed by a physical examination, during which a heart murmur may be detected. Chest x-rays, EKG, and an echocardiogram also may be done. If enough symptoms are present then a cardiac catheterization may be necessary to better evaluate the valve and the heart. Some treatments are medications to control blood pressure, limitations on strenuous activity, or if symptoms are severe then surgery to repair or more likely replace will be recommended. When I was diagnosed with aortic valve disease I was a freshman in high school. I had to go through all these tests and see a heart doctor. Whenever I go to the dentist or have surgery I have to take antibiotics before to prevent infection in my heart. I was told that my valves don't open properly and when the heart pumps blood out, some of the blood hits the valve and splashes back in. So my heart has to work harder to produce more blood flow. I was told that as a young person I could live life normally with little problems, and I could play sports but I would have to keep an eye on my heart. When I played sports there were times when it felt like my heart was going to jump out of my chest, I did have some chest pain here and there, I would get out of breath or tired easier then when I was younger, and I had to make sure I didn’t take to many hits to my chest or heart. My doctor told me when I was diagnosed that I wouldn’t have many problems as a child but when I am older like in my 40’s and over I will have more and more problems and I would have to keep a close eye on my heart because I will have a higher chance of heart failure and risks. But for now I don’t let that hold me back, I am always playing sports, especially contact sports like tackle football.