Aortic stenosis may cause heart failure 

About aortic stenosis.

Narrowed aortic stenosis

When the aortic valve, which divides the aorta, the largest blood vessel that transports blood throughout the body, from the left ventricle, the heart's pumping chamber, narrows, it is known as aortic stenosis. Let me break it down for you: In aortic stenosis, the aortic valve—which divides the left ventricle (the heart's pumping chamber) from the aorta—narrows. Let me explain:

Relating Conditions

A condition known as aortic valve stenosis

• Aortic valve narrowing decreases blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta.
• It may narrow above and below the aortic valve or at its location.
• The condition usually worsens over time.

Symptoms of Aortic Stenosis

• Chest pain
• No breath or difficulty breathing
• Dizziness, fainting, or lightheadedness
• Fast, erratic pulse
• Foot or ankle swelling
• Rapid fatigue during daily tasks like walking.
• Trouble sleeping

Not all aortic stenosis patients have symptoms. Many people don't notice symptoms until blood flow is severely reduced. To evaluate aortic stenosis and heart function, speak with your physician if you experience any symptoms.

In newborns and children with congenital aortic stenosis, symptoms include:

• Failure to acquire weight
• Normal-activity fatigue
• Trouble feeding
  
  
  
  
• Having trouble breathing

Various factors cause aortic stenosis:

• Senile Aortic Calcification: Calcium deposits on the valve inhibit appropriate opening and shutting.
• Bicuspid Aortic Valve: People who are born with two flaps rather than three may experience problems in the future.
• Marfan syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, rheumatic fever, lupus, giant cell arteritis, and endocarditis can affect the aortic valve.
• Aortic valve constriction can result from scarring caused by rheumatic fever, a strep throat condition.

Risk factors for aortic stenosis:

Aortic stenosis narrows the aortic valve, which connects the left ventricle to the aorta. Here are several risk factors for this condition:

Age:

The main risk factor for aortic stenosis is age. It's frequent in elderly people, especially over 65.

Congenital heart defects:

Some people have heart defects from birth, such as bicuspid aortic valves, which have two flaps rather than three. This congenital abnormality raises aortic stenosis risk.

Chronic renal disease:

Long-term renal disease increases aortic valve stenosis risk.

Risks of Heart Disease:

The risk of aortic stenosis is increased by diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

Infections:

Aortic valve damage can result from heart infections. 

Rheumatic fever, infective endocarditis.

Radiotherapy: Cancer treatment with chest radiation can damage heart valves and raise aortic stenosis risk.

Diagnostics of Aortic stenosis

Aortic stenosis is diagnosed via clinical and specialist testing.

Clinical Assessment:

• To listen to your heart, medical professionals use stethoscopes. They may hear a cardiac murmur in aortic stenosis.
• It's important to distinguish aortic stenosis from coronary heart disease because the symptoms are similar. Your cardiologist will thoroughly evaluate your symptoms and medical history.

Tests for diagnosis:

During this non-invasive procedure, ultrasound produces detailed images of the heart. It measures heart blood flow and aortic valve stenosis severity. Standard exterior echocardiograms and transesophageal echocardiograms, which visualize the heart from the inside, are available.

The quick test known as an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) captures the electrical activity of the heart. It checks heart chambers and irregular heart rhythms.

Your heart and lungs are visible on a chest X-ray. It can identify calcium buildup on the valve and cardiac enlargement associated with aortic stenosis.

Exercise (stress) tests involve having your heart rate monitored while you walk on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike. Exercise tests assess valve-related symptoms and cardiac behavior during exertion.

CT scan: This test creates fine-grained pictures of your heart and valves using X-rays. It helps measure the aorta and check for calcium deposits in the aortic valve.

Cardiac MRI: MRI scans produce finely detailed images of the heart using radio waves and magnetic fields. They assess the extent of aortic valve stenosis and the size of the aorta.

Cardiac catheterization is not usually used for diagnosis, but it can be used to determine the severity of aortic valve disease or in cases where other tests are inconclusive.

Aortic Stenosis Prognosis

• Major heart problems or no symptoms at all can result from aortic stenosis.
• Appropriate treatment usually works well.

Duration of Aortic Stenosis

Although symptoms may not show up until age 70 or 80, aging-related aortic stenosis typically begins after age 60.

As a result, you might be unaware of your aortic stenosis for decades.

Treatment and medication for aortic stenosis

Video explains treatment for Aortic stenosis 

 Explore the therapy options:

In mild or moderate aortic stenosis without symptoms, your doctor may propose "watchful waiting" and lifestyle changes. Your condition will be monitored by regular examinations and echocardiograms.

• Lifestyle modifications are crucial:
• Focus on heart-healthy meals, decrease saturated fat, and eat balanced.
• Weight Management: Lose weight as needed.
• Stop smoking to enhance heart health.
• Find healthy stress management methods.
• Exercise: Exercise according to your symptoms

Medications:

• No drug can cure aortic stenosis, Although several can manage symptoms and reduce complications.
• ACE inhibitors widen blood vessels.
• Beta-blockers slow heartbeat.
• Water medications, or diuretics, minimize fluid buildup and cardiac stress.
• Aspirin may improve heart health.
• Statins lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol but have hazards; see your doctor.

Procedures: If aggressive treatment is needed:

Balloon Valvuloplasty:

• Inflates a balloon to fix the valve. The effect is transient, so it's rarely employed.
• Fits youngsters, high-risk patients, and those awaiting further treatments.
• Aortic Valve Replacement: Often needed for severe aortic stenosis.

Options:

• Mechanical valves last longer but require lifetime blood-thinning medicine.
• Biological Valve: Tissue (cow, pig, human donor). Replace after 10–15 years.
• TaVR: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement
• Minimally invasive valve replacement by artery catheter.
• Suitable for high-risk open-heart surgery patients.

Medication Choices

If your illness is moderate or you can't have surgery, your doctor may prescribe medicines to relieve symptoms and prevent subsequent complications.

Medications may include:

• After arrhythmias arise, anti-arrhythmic drugs keep your heart rhythm normal.
• Blood thinners or anticoagulants to prevent blood clots
• Beta-blockers minimize heart workload and palpitations.
• Hypertension ACE inhibitors lower blood pressure.
• Diuretics to reduce tissue and circulation fluid.
• Vasodilators dilate blood vessels.
• Aortic Stenosis Prevention

Aortic stenosis can't be prevented, but you can lower your risk and preserve heart health:

Control Blood Pressure:

Hypertension greatly raises aortic stenosis risk. Managing blood pressure requires monitoring, lifestyle changes, and medication compliance.

Reduce cholesterol:

High cholesterol, especially LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and triglycerides, increases aortic stenosis risk. Eat well, exercise, and take cholesterol-lowering drugs if needed.

Give Up Smoking:

Smoking affects blood arteries and raises heart disease risk, including aortic stenosis. Get help quitting smoking and improving cardiovascular health.

Diabetes Prevention:

Uncontrolled diabetes damages blood arteries and increases aortic valve disease risk. A healthy lifestyle, blood sugar management, and regular checkups are crucial.

Treat sore throats quickly:

Rheumatic fever, which destroys heart valves, can result from untreated strep throat. Please consult a doctor immediately for a sore throat and comprehensive antibiotic treatment.

To maintain heart health, 

Consider regular exercise, 

A balanced diet, 

Weight management and stress reduction. 

Also read https://www.narayanahealth.org/diseases/aortic-valve-replacement

Aortic Stenosis Issues

• Initially, aortic stenosis may be symptomless. 
• Blood clots
• Bleeding
• Heart failure
• Stroke
• Uneven heartbeat

Heart-related infections

Death

Statistics on Aortic Stenosis: Who Has It?

Aortic stenosis is usually diagnosed in older individuals; however, some newborns are born with it. About 2% of 65-year-olds have it. Men have the condition more than women.

Aortic Stenosis and BIPOC

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color may underdiagnose aortic stenosis. A 2020 study found that Black, Hispanic, and Asian patients are diagnosed with aortic stenosis less often than white patients, despite having more risk factors like chronic kidney disease, hypertension, obesity, and diabetes.

These patients may have missed diagnoses.

The study found that underrepresented racial and ethnic groups are less likely than white patients to have aortic valve replacement surgery, but they are more likely to have post-surgery complications like bleeding, worsening heart failure, and hospital readmission. Patients from underrepresented groups with severe aortic stenosis have a greater morbidity and mortality rate than white patients.

Related Aortic Stenosis Conditions and Causes

• For many with aortic stenosis, other heart problems include:
• Coronary disease
• Hypertension
• Atrial fibrillation

Conclusion

For milder cases, medications can help treat symptoms and reduce the risk of complications. In addition to these treatments, you can also try these lifestyle changes, like eating a heart-healthy diet.  Maintain a moderate weight to support your heart health. Prevention is better than cure.