Aortic valve stenosis ( AS ) is a heart condition caused by the incomplete opening of the aortic valve. This narrowing prevents the valve from opening fully, which obstructs blood flow from your heart into your aorta and onward to the rest of your body. Blood flows from the right and left atria across the tricuspid and mitral valves into the lower chambers (right and left ventricles). The thickened heart muscle requires an increasing supply of blood from the coronary arteries, and sometimes, especially during exercise, the blood supply does not meet the needs of the heart muscle, and chest pain, fainting, and sometimes sudden death may occur. Blood circulates through the arteries to provide oxygen and other nutrients to the body, and then returns with carbon dioxide waste through the veins to the right atrium. When the ventricles contract, blood from the right ventricle is pumped through the pulmonic valve into the lungs to reload on oxygen and remove carbon dioxide. Blood is pumped by the left ventricle across the aortic valve into the aorta and the arteries of the body. Several factors, including aging, can damage the aortic valve and lead to aortic valve stenosis. Some babies are even born with a defective aortic valve. If you have severe aortic valve stenosis, you'll usually need surgery to replace the valve. Left unchecked, aortic valve stenosis can lead to serious heart problems.

Stenosis means narrowing. Normally, oxygen rich blood is pumped from the left ventricle, through the aortic valve and into the aorta. Significant aortic stenosis is relatively uncommon affecting about 6 of every 1000 babies born and occurs more often in boys. When a child has aortic stenosis, the area where blood exits the heart's lower left chamber is too narrow. Heart valves are thin leaflets of tissue which open and close at the proper time during each heart beat cycle. The heart muscle may also begin to weaken, leading to heart failure. When the degree of narrowing becomes significant enough to impede the flow of blood from the left ventricle to the arteries, heart problems develop. Aortic stenosis occurs 3 times more commonly in men than women. The result is that the left ventricle must squeeze harder to get a sufficient amount of blood through the aortic valve with each beat. The increased work load makes the muscle of the left ventricle grow thicker (hypertrophy). Eventually the heart muscle cannot keep up with the work load and begins to fail.

Causes of Aortic Stenosis

The common Causes of Aortic Stenosis :

Progressive calcification of the aortic valve with age (most common in elderly)
A bicuspid (two-part) aortic valve with progressive wear and tear
An aortic valve that has only one cusp or is otherwise stenotic from birth
Rarely, scarring of the aortic valve caused by rheumatic fever
A birth defect of the aortic valve (this valve normally has three cusps)

Symptoms of Aortic Stenosis

Some Symptoms of Aortic Stenosis :

Fatigue, especially during times of increased activity
Dizziness
weakness ,
Shortness of breath, especially with exertion
Breathlessness with activity
Fainting.
Sensation of feeling the heart beat ( palpitations )
Chest pain ,
Heart murmur

Treatment of Aortic Stenosis

Surgery is the only treatment to cure aortic stenosis. The procedures may include an aortic valve replacement, aortic valve repair or aortic balloon valvuloplasty. Ask your caregiver for more information about these procedures.
Antibiotics may be given to help treat or prevent an infection caused by germs called bacteria
This medicine may be given to make your heart beat stronger or more regularly. There are many different kinds of heart medicines. Talk with your caregiver to find out what your medicine is and why you are taking it.
This is medicine that may be given to help thin the blood to keep blood clots from forming.
This medicine is often called "water pills". Diuretics help your body get rid of extra fluid (edema) in your legs and ankles. This medicine may also help get rid of extra fluid in your lungs or around your heart. It may also decrease your blood pressure. You may urinate more often when taking diuretics.
This type of medicine is given to help decrease (lower) the amount of cholesterol (fat) in your blood.

Bowel & Stomach Diseases

Appendicitis
Barett's Oesophagus
Coeliac Disease
Crohn's Disease

Heart Problems

Angina
Aortic Aneurysm
Aortic Regurgitation
Aortic Stenosis
Arrhythmias
Atrial Fibrillation

Infectious Diseases

Bacterial Vaginosis
Bird Flu
Boils
Cellulitis
Chicken Pox
Cystitis

Skin Disorders

Acne
Alopecia Areata
Baldness

Women Diseases

Abnormal Periods
Atropic Vaginitis
Breast Cancer
Breast Pain
Cervical Cancer

Liver & Kidney Diseases

Cholecystitis
Cirrhosis
Fatty Liver Disease
Kidney Cancer
Liver Cancer

Mental Health

Anorexia Nervosa
Bipolar Affective Disorder
Bulimia Nervosa
Dementia
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Schizophrenia

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