Aortic Stenosis: From 4 Different Sources
An unnatural narrowing of the aortic opening of the heart or of the aortic vessel. A serious defect which may lead to chronic heart enlargement. Hardening or scarring of the valve and ultimately calcification may follow rheumatic fever, syphilis or other chronic disease and may be congenital. Incompetence of the valve may be observed in arteries that throb. More common in men. Symptoms: pain over the breast bone, fainting, vertigo, breathlessness, headache. Where heart is resilient, compensation can minimise effects. Most popular agent among practitioners is Cactus. See entry.
Without addition of a diuretic, (Dandelion or Buchu) dropsy of legs and feet, and breathlessness tend to worsen.
Treatment. Surgical valve replacement now the treatment of choice. Improve the circulation.
Formula. Liquid extracts: Cactus 10ml; Pulsatilla 5ml; Hawthorn 20ml; Tincture Capsicum BPC 1934 0.25ml. Dose: 10-30 drops thrice daily before meals.
A. Barker FNIMH. Liquid extract Garden Thyme 15ml; Liquid extract Pulsatilla 5ml; Liquid extract Passion flower 15ml; Tincture Capsicum 0.25ml. Emuls aqua Menth Pip conc (1 in 64) 2ml . . . Aqua to 250ml. Dose: 1 dessertspoon (8ml) in water every 4 hours.
Diet. See: DIET – HEART AND CIRCULATION.
Narrowing of the opening of the aortic valve (one of the heart valves), causing obstruction of blood flow into the circulation. This makes the heart work harder and causes the muscle in the wall of the left ventricle (the main pumping chamber) to thicken. Narrowing of the valve also reduces the amount of blood flowing into the coronary arteries.
The most common cause of aortic stenosis is deposition of calcium on the aortic valve, usually associated with atherosclerosis. Aortic stenosis may also be caused by a congenital abnormality.
Aortic stenosis may not cause symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they include fainting, lack of energy, chest pain on exertion due to angina, and breathing difficulty.
Chest X-ray, ECG, and echocardiography may be carried out to diagnose aortic stenosis.
A cardiac catheter can be used to demonstrate the degree of stenosis (see catheterization, cardiac).
Heart-valve surgery may be needed to widen or replace the damaged valve.
Narrowing of the AORTIC VALVE in the HEART which obstructs the ?ow of blood through it, with serious effects on the heart and the circulation. The muscle in the left ventricle works harder to compensate for the obstruction and thickens as a result. Stenosis is usually caused by the deposition of calcium on the valve and is commonly associated with ATHEROMA. Untreated, the condition leads to heart failure, but nowadays the stenosis can be treated surgically.
narrowing of the opening of the aortic valve due to fusion of the cusps that comprise the valve. It may result from previous rheumatic fever, or from calcification and scarring in a valve that has two *cusps instead of the normal three, or it may be congenital. Aortic stenosis obstructs the flow of blood from the left ventricle to the aorta during systole. Breathlessness on effort, angina pectoris, and fainting may follow. The patient has a systolic *murmur. When symptoms develop the valve should be replaced with a mechanical or biological prosthesis, either surgically or via a catheter (see transcatheter aortic valve implantation).
A disorder of the HEART in which obstruction of the out?ow of blood from the right ventricle occurs. Narrowing of the pulmonary valve at the exit of the right ventricle and narrowing of the pulmonary artery may cause obstruction. The condition is usually congenital, although it may be caused by RHEUMATIC FEVER. In the congenital condition, pulmonary stenosis may occur with other heart defects and is then known as Fallot’s tetralogy. Breathlessness and enlargement of the heart and eventual heart failure may be the consequence of pulmonary stenosis. Surgery is usually necessary to remove the obstruction.... pulmonary stenosis
An unnatural narrowing in any passage or ori?ce of the body. The word is especially used in connection with the four openings of the HEART at which the valves are situated. (See HEART, DISEASES OF.)... stenosis
See also REGURGITATION. This is the back ?ow of blood through the AORTIC VALVE of the HEART into the left ventricle, caused by an incompetent valve. The failure to close may be caused by a congenital defect or by damage from disease. The defect may be cured by surgical replacement of the damaged valve with an arti?cial valve. (See HEART, DISEASES OF.)... aortic incompetence
The valve that controls the ?ow of blood from the AORTA to the left ventricle of the HEART.... aortic valve
Narrowing of the opening between the left ATRIUM and left VENTRICLE of the HEART as a result of rigidity of, and adhesion between, the cusps of the MITRAL VALVE. It is due, almost invariably, to the infection RHEUMATIC FEVER. The atrium has to work harder to force blood through the narrowed channel. The effects are similar to those of MITRAL INCOMPETENCE. Shortness of breath and palpitations and irregular beating (?brillation) of the atrium are common consequences in adults. Drug treatment with DIGOXIN and DIURETICS helps, but surgery to dilate or replace the faulty valve may be necessary.... mitral stenosis
The normal working of the TRICUSPID VALVE in the HEART is impeded by a narrowing of the opening, often as a sequel of RHEUMATIC FEVER. As with TRICUSPID INCOMPETENCE, heart failure may result and treatment is similar, with surgery to repair or replace the faulty valve an option.... tricuspid stenosis
see aneurysm.... aortic aneurysm
that part of the aorta that extends from the ascending aorta, upward over the heart and then backward and down as far as the fourth thoracic vertebra. *Stretch receptors in its outer wall monitor blood pressure and form part of the system maintaining this at a constant level.... aortic arch
a surgical technique used to replace a diseased length of aorta, most often the abdominal aorta. It usually involves inserting into the aorta a flexible tube of artificial material, which functions as a substitute for the diseased section.... aortic replacement
(carotid stenosis) narrowing of the carotid artery, which reduces the supply of blood to the brain and is a cause of strokes. It is treated by surgical excision or bypass of the narrowed segment (see also endarterectomy) or by inserting a *stent into the carotid artery.... carotid artery stenosis
(TAVI) replacement of the aortic valve in patients with *aortic stenosis using a catheter-delivered prosthesis rather than open heart surgery. Usually the catheter is passed via the femoral artery, but sometimes it can be passed via the subclavian artery or through the wall of the left ventricle via a localized *thoracotomy.... transcatheter aortic valve implantation
a leak of the aortic valve resulting in reflux of blood from the aorta into the left ventricle during diastole. Aortic regurgitation is most commonly due to degenerative ‘wear and tear’ of the aortic valve. Other causes include dilatation of the aortic root with secondary dilatation of the aortic valve, scarring of the aortic valve as a result of previous acute rheumatic fever, or destruction of the valve by infection (see endocarditis). Mild cases are symptom-free, but patients more severely affected develop breathlessness, angina pectoris, and enlargement of the heart; all have a diastolic murmur. A badly affected valve may be replaced surgically with a prosthesis.... aortic regurgitation
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