Cardiology and Heart Failure

Vascular Heart Disease

Vascular heart disease is characterized by damage to or a defect in one of the four heart valves: the mitral, aortic, tricuspid or pulmonary. In vascular heart disease, the valves become too narrow and hardened (stenosis) to open fully or are unable to close completely (incompetent). Valve disease symptoms can occur suddenly, depending upon how quickly the disease develops. Many of the symptoms are similar to those associated with congestive heart failure, such as shortness of breath and wheezing after limited physical exertion and swelling of the feet, ankles, hands or abdomen (edema). The severity of vascular heart disease varies. In mild cases there may be no symptoms, while in advanced cases, vascular heart disease may lead to congestive heart failure and other complications. Treatment depends upon the extent of the disease.