Valves are flaps that prevent blood from leaking backwards into the chamber. There are four chambers in your heart. The two upper chambers are called atria, and the two lower chambers are called ventricles.
The four valves in your heart are:
1. Tricuspid valve
It allows blood to pass from the right atrium to the right ventricle. Besides, it prevents blood from leaking backward from the right ventricle to the right atrium.
2. Pulmonary valve
It allows blood to pass from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery. Besides, it prevents blood from flowing backward from the pulmonary artery to the right ventricle.
3. Mitral valve
It allows blood to move from the lungs into the left atrium. Besides, it prevents blood from moving backward from the left ventricle to the left atrium.
4. Aortic valve
It allows blood to pass from the left ventricle to the aorta. Besides, it prevents backward flow from the aorta into the left ventricle.
To diagnose valvular heart disease, your doctor will assess your symptoms/medical history and listen to your heart sounds using a stethoscope. Then, they may order blood and imaging tests to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment for valvular heart disease involves:
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