Heart Valve Disease

The mitral valve is positioned in the heart’s left side, between the left upper chamber (left atrium) and the left lower chamber (left ventricle). The tricuspid valve is positioned in the heart’s right side, between the heart’s right upper chamber (right atrium) and the right lower chamber (right ventricle). The pulmonic valve separates the right ventricle from the pulmonary artery (which carries blood to the lungs). The aortic valve separates the left ventricle from the aorta (which carries blood to the body).

Heart disease can be caused by many different things and comes in many different forms. When the heart valve becomes diseased, one of two things happens: it doesn’t close tightly enough (called incompetence) to keep blood from backing up into the chamber from which it flowed; or, it doesn’t open widely enough (called stenosis) to allow adequate amounts of blood to flow into the chamber.

When blood flow is compromised, mild to severe symptoms can result. With today’s advanced medical technology, diseased valves can be repaired or replaced.