Aortic Stenosis Specialist

What is aortic stenosis?

Aortic stenosis is a condition where your heart has to pump harder than usual to keep your blood circulating. It happens when the aortic valve in your heart is too narrow and can't open properly, reducing blood flow to your aortic artery.

The aortic artery is the blood vessel that delivers oxygen-rich blood from your heart to the rest of your body. Stenosis of the aortic artery causes a strain on your heart that can weaken and thicken the muscle, making you more likely to develop congestive heart failure.

In some cases, aortic stenosis is due to a congenital condition – one that you've had from birth. It can also develop as a complication after infection by the streptococcus (strep) bacteria.

What symptoms does aortic stenosis cause?

Common symptoms of aortic stenosis include:

• Heart murmur
• Chest pain when exercising
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Palpitations
• Fatigue

You may have aortic stenosis and not realize there's a problem, as the condition doesn't always cause symptoms. Your provider at Cary Cardiology, P.A., might find you have aortic stenosis during routine exams or tests.

The severity of aortic stenosis symptoms can vary depending on how narrow the artery has become and how long you've had the problem.

How is aortic stenosis diagnosed?

At Cary Cardiology, P.A., your provider performs a thorough evaluation to find the cause of your symptoms. They review your medical history and discuss your current issues, then perform a physical exam.

They may also run tests to confirm or eliminate a possible diagnosis. Tests you might require for aortic stenosis include:

• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Echocardiogram
• Stress testing
• Holter or event monitoring

The test results help determine how severely aortic stenosis affects your heart health, which can assist your provider when they're designing your personalized treatment plan.

What treatments are available for aortic stenosis?

If your aortic stenosis symptoms are mild, you might improve significantly by making certain changes to your lifestyle. Regular exercise, a healthy, balanced diet, and not smoking are all effective ways of improving the health of your cardiovascular system.

Severe aortic stenosis that's having a significant effect on your life might require surgery. The primary surgical technique for treating aortic stenosis is TAVR (transcatheter aortic valve replacement, a minimally invasive approach to replacing the diseased aortic valve.

To find a solution to your aortic stenosis, contact Cary Cardiology, P.A., for more information. To schedule a consultation, call or book online today.