Symptoms

Many patients do not notice any symptoms of heart valve disease. It is possible to have severe heart valve disease without any symptoms. Alternatively, some patients may have symptoms even though the condition of their disease is not serious.

Following are symptoms that some patients with heart valve disease may experience:

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Weakness during regular activities
• Dizziness or fainting
• Discomfort in the chest
• Palpitations or feeling that your heart has missed a beat
• Swelling in ankles, feet or stomach
• Sudden and unexplained weight gain
• Headaches

Diagnostic Methods

If heart valve disease is suspected, your doctor will first listen to your heart. A heart 'murmur' suggests that a valve in your heart is not working correctly.

If this is the case, your doctor will recommend imaging tests to see if you have heart valve disease. The most commonly performed test to assess valve function is the cardiac ultrasound. These tests may be repeated over time to see how the disease is progressing.

We use state-of-the-art diagnostic technology to form the most accurate picture of your heart health as possible. And we’ll discuss all test results, therapeutic strategies and decisions with your referring or primary care physician to make sure you get the treatment that’s right for you. Our diagnostic methods include:

• Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography with 3D imaging
• Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging
• Multi-detector computed tomography with 3D reconstruction
• Cardiac catheterization