The heart consists of four chambers, two atria (upper chambers) and two ventricles (lower chambers). There is a valve through which blood passes before leaving each chamber of the heart. The valves prevent the backward flow of blood. These valves are actual flaps that are located on each end of the two ventricles (lower chambers of the heart). They act as one-way inlets of blood on one side of a ventricle and one-way outlets of blood on the other side of a ventricle. Each valve actually has three flaps, except the mitral valve, which has two flaps. The four heart valves include the following:
- tricuspid valve: located between the right atrium and the right ventricle
- pulmonary valve: located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery
- mitral valve: located between the left atrium and the left ventricle
- aortic valve: located between the left ventricle and the aorta
How do the heart valves function?
As the heart muscle contracts and relaxes, the valves open and shut, letting blood flow into the ventricles and atria at alternate times. The following is a step-by-step illustration of how the valves function normally in the left ventricle:
- After the left ventricle contracts, the aortic valve closes and the mitral valve opens, to allow blood to flow from the left atrium into the left ventricle.
- As the left atrium contracts, more blood flows into the left ventricle.
- When the left ventricle contracts again, the mitral valve closes and the aortic valve opens, so blood flows into the aorta.
What is heart valve disease?
Heart valves can have one of two malfunctions:
- Regurgitation- the valve(s) does not close completely, causing the blood to flow backward instead of forward through the valve.
- Stenosis- the valve(s) opening becomes narrowed or does not form properly, inhibiting the flow of blood out of the ventricle or atria. The heart is forced to pump blood with increased force in order to move blood through the stiff (stenotic) valve(s).
Heart valves can have both malfunctions at the same time (regurgitation and stenosis). When heart valves fail to open and close properly, the implications for the heart can be serious, possibly hampering the heart’s ability to pump blood adequately through the body. Heart valve problems are one cause of heart failure.
Your heart has four valves that keep blood flowing in the correct direction. In some cases, one or more of the valves don't open or close properly. This can cause the blood flow through your heart to your body to be disrupted.
Your heart valve disease treatment depends on the heart valve affected and the type and severity of the disease. Sometimes heart valve disease requires surgery to repair or replace the heart valve.
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Symptoms
Some people with heart valve disease might not have symptoms for many years. When signs and symptoms occur, they might include:
- Whooshing sound (heart murmur) when a doctor is listening to the heart with a stethoscope
- Chest pain
- Abdominal swelling (more common with advanced tricuspid regurgitation)
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath, particularly when active or lying down
- Swelling of your ankles and feet
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Irregular heartbeat
When to see a doctor
If you have symptoms that might suggest heart valve disease, see your doctor. If you have a heart murmur, your doctor might suggest that you see a cardiologist.
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Causes
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Chambers and valves of the heart
Chambers and valves of the heart
A typical heart has two upper and two lower chambers. The upper chambers, the right and left atria, receive incoming blood. The lower chambers, the more muscular right and left ventricles, pump blood out of the heart. The heart valves, which keep blood flowing in the right direction, are gates at the chamber openings.
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A normal heart and heart valve problems
A normal heart and heart valve problems
Heart valve problems may include a narrowed valve (stenosis), a leaking valve (regurgitation) or a valve with leaflets that are bulging back (prolapse), as shown in the bottom two images. Normal heart valves and blood flow are shown in the top image.
The four heart valves, which keep blood flowing in the right direction, are the mitral, tricuspid, pulmonary and aortic valves. Each valve has flaps (leaflets) that open and close once per heartbeat. If one or more of the valves fail to open or close properly, the blood flow through your heart to your body is disrupted.
Heart valve disease may be present at birth (congenital). It can also occur in adults due to many causes and conditions, such as infections and other heart conditions.
Heart valve problems include:
- Regurgitation. The valve flaps don't close properly, causing blood to leak backward in your heart. This commonly occurs due to valve flaps bulging back, a condition called prolapse.
- Stenosis. The valve flaps become thick or stiff and possibly fuse together. This results in a narrowed valve opening and reduced blood flow through the valve.
- Atresia. The valve isn't formed, and a solid sheet of tissue blocks the blood flow between the heart chambers.
Risk factors
Several factors can increase your risk of heart valve disease, including:
- Older age
- History of certain infections that can affect the heart
- History of certain forms of heart disease or heart attack
- High blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and other heart disease risk factors
- Heart conditions present at birth (congenital heart disease)
Complications
Heart valve disease can cause many complications, including:
- Heart failure
- Stroke
- Blood clots
- Heart rhythm abnormalities
- Death
By Mayo Clinic Staff
Heart valve disease care at Mayo Clinic
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Diagnosis & treatment
Sept. 29, 2021
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Show references
- What is heart valve disease? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. //www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/heart-valve-disease. Accessed June 24, 2021.
- Nishimura RA, et al. 2017 AHA/ACC focused update of the 2014 AHA/ACC guideline for the management of patients with valvular heart disease: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2017;70:252.
- Braswell-Pickering B. Allscripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic. June 30, 2021.
- AskMayoExpert. Mitral regurgitation (adult). Mayo Clinic; 2020.
- AskMayoExpert. Aortic stenosis (adult). Mayo Clinic; 2021.
- Bonow RO, et al., eds. Approach to patients with valvular heart disease. In: Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 11th ed. Saunders Elsevier; 2019. //www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Feb. 7, 2020.
- How can I make my lifestyle healthier? American Heart Association. //www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/More/ToolsForYourHeartHealth/Answers-by-Heart-Fact-Sheets-Lifestyle-and-Risk-Reduction_UCM_300611_Article.jsp#.WC9socnFjVY. Accessed Feb. 7, 2020.
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- A normal heart and heart valve problems
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