Before doctors started giving their patients antibiotics, rheumatic fever was the single biggest cause of valve disease. Today, the cause of valve disease is most likely linked to one of the following:
A weakening of the valve tissue caused by energy changes in the body. This is called myxomatous degeneration. It happens most often in elderly patients and commonly affects the mitral valve.
A buildup of calcium on the aortic or mitral valves, which causes the valves to thicken. This is called calcific degeneration.
An irregularly shaped aortic valve or a narrowed mitral valve. This is usually a congenital defect, which means that most people who have it were born with it.
Use of the anti-obesity medicines fen-phen and Redux, which were removed from the market after being linked to heart valve disease.
An infection in the lining of the heart's walls and valves (the endocardium). This is called infective endocarditis.
Coronary artery disease.
Heart attack.
What causes (Valvular heart disease)?
Before doctors started giving their patients antibiotics, rheumatic fever was the single biggest cause of valve disease. Today, the cause of valve disease is most likely linked to one of the following:
A weakening of the valve tissue caused by energy changes in the body. This is called myxomatous degeneration. It happens most often in elderly patients and commonly affects the mitral valve.
A buildup of calcium on the aortic or mitral valves, which causes the valves to thicken. This is called calcific degeneration.
An irregularly shaped aortic valve or a narrowed mitral valve. This is usually a congenital defect, which means that most people who have it were born with it.
Use of the anti-obesity medicines fen-phen and Redux, which were removed from the market after being linked to heart valve disease.
An infection in the lining of the heart's walls and valves (the endocardium). This is called infective endocarditis.
Coronary artery disease.
Heart attack.