The heart is one of the strongest muscles in the body and is divided into two parts. The upper part contains the two chambers of the atrium and the lower half contains the two chambers of the ventricle. The atria collect blood from outside the heart area and force it into the ventricular chambers. The two ventricular chambers distribute blood to the lungs for oxygenation or to the rest of the human body, depending on which of the ventricular chambers you are looking at.
Sometimes one or more of the four sets of valves are damaged due to disease, injury, or you may be born with a heart valve defect. Normally, the valves will allow blood to flow in only one direction, but when they are damaged, the valves will not work properly. Valvular regurgitation (leakage) and stenosis (stiffness) are the two main types of heart valve disease. If the damage to the valve is great enough, you could have heart valve disease, and if left unchecked, the chance of a heart attack or even death is greatly increased.
Causes of heart valve disease.
Recreational use of amphetamines, cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy, and other drugs can overwork the heart and lead to heart valve disease.
Another cause is a condition known as a congenital anomaly, which is a heart valve defect that is present at birth, such as a heart murmur, a small hole in the valve, or some type of malformation of the valves.
Narrowing of the blood vessels or arteries leading to and from the heart can put enough stress on the heart valves to cause damage. This can be caused by extensive calcification that sometimes occurs in old age, such as atherosclerosis.
Bacterial infection, valve inflammation, and conditions such as rheumatic fever can also cause heart valve problems.
Symptoms of some form of heart valve disease can be very mild and can be attributed to a number of different problems, including asthma, heartburn, cynosis (a bluish discoloration of the lips and nail beds). It is a serious condition and you should never attempt to self-diagnose the problem.
If you notice any of the following symptoms during physical activity, you should report them to your health care provider as soon as possible. If you experience dizziness or fainting, shortness of breath, chest pain, skin color changes to a gray or bluish hue (pink or red is normal), or your recovery time from physical activity is excessive.
Obviously, a good diet and exercise will greatly reduce your chances of developing any type of heart valve problem. As with any medical condition, early detection and treatment are critical to successful recovery from heart valve disease.
Common vitamins and over-the-counter products can help with heart valve disease, including vitamin C, vitamin E, sitrinol, pantothenic acid, niacin, policosanol, and antioxidants.
Vitamin C has been shown to reduce high blood pressure.
Vitamin E improves circulation and promotes normal blood clotting and is known to help red blood cells live longer.
Sytrinol is known to be useful in helping to maintain a healthy level of cholesterol in the body by lowering the levels of triglycerides and low-density lipoproteins.
Pantothenic acid is another form of non-toxic B vitamin and is essential in the metabolism and synthesis of carbohydrates, fats and proteins.
Niacin is the closest thing to a perfect treatment that corrects most causes of coronary heart disease. Niacin blocks the release of fatty acids from fat cells. Niacin plays a critical role in energy production, gene expression, and hormone synthesis. You can not live without it. Niacin also tends to change the distribution of LDL particles to a larger particle size and improve HDL function.
Policosanol is a natural supplement derived from sugar cane and promotes healthy platelet function and helps maintain normal cholesterol levels in the human body.
Natural antioxidants are abundant in fruits and vegetables such as apples, blueberries, broccoli, cherries, cranberries, grapes, and spinach.
Lifestyle changes can also reduce the risk of medical emergencies. If you smoke, quit smoking, eat healthy foods, maintain a healthy weight, and exercise regularly.
This report is nutritional in nature and should not be construed as medical advice.
Always consult your doctor before using this information.
