February 22 is Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day. Here’s a look at what it is, and how it impacts men’s health. People often assume that heart disease is the result of fatty deposits building up in the arteries, a process known as atherosclerosis.
However, heart valve disease (HVD) is a separate issue that occurs when one or more of the heart valves does not function as it should. Many people could be living with undiagnosed HVD, which could lower quality of life and increase the risk of serious complications developing in the future.
Men are more likely than women to be affected by heart disease, and they are also less likely to seek timely medical intervention. HVD shares similar risk factors as other heart conditions for another common male health problem: erectile dysfunction (ED).
This is because the arteries that carry blood the distance between the heart and the penis need to be in healthy working order to produce an erection. Therefore persistent ED should always be discussed with a doctor to rule out any underlying causes.
The doctor may recommend medicines known as PDE5 inhibitors, which include Viagra and Cialis (which is cheap to buy online under the generic label of tadalafil). However, they may not be suitable for every patient, particularly those with a heart condition, so it’s essential to talk to a doctor or pharmacist before taking PDE5 inhibitors.
What is Heart Valve Disease?
HVD occurs when one or more of the heart’s four valves are damaged, interfering with efficient blood flow. The heart valves control the direction of blood flow around the body. The valves of the side of the heart include the pulmonary and tricuspid, and on the left hand side are the aortic and mitral.
When HVD occurs, this most often results in a valve not opening fully (stenosis), or not closing properly (prolapse). This can restrict the flow of blood around the body, or cause blood to leak back into the heart. Both of these issues can increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke, and of developing other heart conditions such as arrhythmias.
What are the risk factors for HVD?
The main causes of HVD include congenital heart disease (being born with a heart condition); having conditions that affect the heart such as cardiomyopathy, rheumatic fever or endocarditis; getting older; high cholesterol or high blood pressure; or previous damage from a heart attack.
What are the symptoms of HVD?
The most common symptoms of HVD include shortness of breath; feeling more tired than usual; swollen ankles and feet; heart palpitations; pain or discomfort in the chest; and feeling weak or dizzy. However, sometimes people can be living with HVD that has no pronounced symptoms. HVD can be mild, moderate or severe.
How is HVD treated?
Milder forms of HVD may just require monitoring rather than treating. However, more serious cases may require medical management, surgery, or both. Medicines can reduce the strain on the heart and help it to work more effectively. They can lower blood pressure; slow down the heart rate; and reduce the risk of blood clots.
Severe HVD may require surgery to repair the heart valve, or replace the heart valve with an artificial one if it can’t be repaired.
Tips for managing your heart health
There are steps you can take to manage your heart health to reduce your risk of HVD and other cardiovascular conditions. Keep up to date with regular health check ups to identify any silent symptoms. Familiarise yourself with the common symptoms of heart disease, and book a check up if you have any concerns.
Lead an active lifestyle to help keep your heart strong, and eat a well balanced diet with plenty of whole foods and lean proteins, and limit intake of red meat and ultra processed foods. Avoid excessive alcohol consumption and smoking, as these can damage the heart over time.
Keep your weight within a healthy range to reduce the strain on your heart, and monitor blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
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