Aortic stenosis is a heart valve disease that restricts blood flow from the heart. It is becoming common because of sedentary lifestyles, lack of knowledge about heart health, and a rise in heart disorders. Aortic stenosis can have severe consequences if left untreated, including heart failure and sudden cardiac death. Therefore, raising awareness about its symptoms and management strategies is crucial.

Read the passage for a detailed note about Aortic Stenosis and its features. 

• Aortic stenosis is called the “silent killer” due to its often unnoticed progression.
• Calcium buildup on the aortic valve commonly causes aortic stenosis, especially in older adults.
• Untreated aortic stenosis can severely reduce life expectancy, leading to heart failure or sudden death.
• Echocardiograms are key for diagnosing and assessing aortic stenosis severity.
• TAVI offers a less invasive alternative to open-heart surgery for valve replacement.
• Rheumatic fever can cause aortic stenosis from bacterial infection.
• Regular check-ups and early detection are vital for managing aortic stenosis effectively.

Before proceeding towards the aortic stenosis meaning, it is important to know the basic heart functioning. 

The human heart circulates blood throughout your body. This organ collects blood, pumps it to the lungs, and then repeats it. Four valves that open and close in the heart’s four chambers regulate blood flow into and out of the organ. 

Like one-way gates, heart valves open and close. When they open, blood flows through the heart and out into the rest of your body. They shut to prevent blood from returning to the heart after being evacuated. The valves allow only one route, or pathway, of blood flow. Like, for they allow blood to move in a single direction. 

The largest vessel, called the aorta, is connected to the aortic valve, which is near the top of the left ventricle. Aorta is the largest artery responsible for blood circulation in the body. 

The leaflets of the aortic valve regulate the blood flow into the aorta. Aortic stenosis is a heart valve condition that develops when calcium deposits force these leaflets to stiffen. The valve opening gets smaller as the illness worsens, making it more difficult for the heart to circulate blood through the valve and throughout the body. You can experience the typical aortic stenosis signs while your heart works a little harder. 

Multiple factors are associated with the onset of this disorder. Here are some of the major causes;

Age-related calcium deposition in heart valves is a common phenomenon. These calcium stores interfere with the normal functioning of the heart and make blood pumping difficult. Aortic stenosis occurs as a result.

Some people are born with the aortic valve having two leaflets instead of three, which is a significant issue in adulthood. However, the valves begin to thin and leak at that stage.

This condition causes the aortic valve to generate scars, which enables it to narrow. Moreover, this rheumatic fever may provide the perfect surface for calcium buildup, ultimately impairing the valve’s function.

This is not the primary cause of aortic stenosis; but it does have an impact. Radiation therapy patients typically experience a faster rate of calcium plaque deposition than the ones who don’t undergo the therapy.

Severe aortic stenosis is a huge concern. Around 50% of the average population suffers severe aortic stenosis. If this remains untreated, half of those who experience symptoms related to this issue pass away in an average of two years. So, you can’t expect a severe aortic stenosis life expectancy rate to exceed two or three years. 

Aortic stenosis of the end stage has worse outcomes than any metastatic cancer. Unmanaged severe aortic stenosis has a lower life expectancy ratio than several metastatic malignancies, such as colorectal, breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer.

Early detection and treatment of aortic stenosis are essential to prevent serious complications. Timely diagnosis and management require a thorough understanding of the available risk factors, diagnostic tools, and treatment options. In this context, medical professionals play a vital role in ensuring that patients receive appropriate care and support throughout their journey with aortic stenosis.

Various diagnostic tests are performed to confirm the presence of aortic stenosis. Some of them include the following;

This is sometimes referred to as an ultrasound. It creates an image of your heart using sound waves, making inspecting the aortic valve easier. 

Here a cardiac surgeon uses a stethoscope to listen to the heart sounds. These sounds are generally called heart murmurs. 

Here, the electrical impulses that your heart produces are measured using sensors. These sensors are affixed to your skin and shown as waves on a screen or printed on paper.

Your physician can examine the size and form of your heart using an X-ray scan of your chest. The calcium deposits on heart valves can also be seen through a chest X-ray.

During this test, a dye is inserted into the heart through the arm or groin, making the heart more apparent on X-ray. 

You should likely visit your family physician. He recommends that you further visit a multidisciplinary cardiac team at a nearby specialty heart center. The specialist’s team can assess you and suggest appropriate therapeutic approaches. Try to provide your doctor with your complete family history and the history of occurring symptoms. He only can offer proper therapeutic approaches after it.

It is the most appropriate cure for severe aortic stenosis. There are now two ways to substitute the damaged aortic valve. Only specialists with substantial experiences, such as a multidisciplinary heart team, can perform a valve replacement operation. A well-trained and committed team completes a complete assessment to determine your best course of action.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation is a method of treating severe aortic stenosis. This surgical procedure uses a catheter to replace a damaged aortic valve. It is a less invasive surgery that inserts a new valve through your damaged aortic valve using a catheter.

This surgery can be conducted using various techniques; however, the transfemoral approach is the most used technique. Here, the incision is made in the leg. You can speak with your heart team for additional information on transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation and its related dangers. Its professionals can suggest the best course of treatment for you.

Another approach for treating severe aortic stenosis is open heart surgery. Most open heart procedures include making full-length sternum or breast bone incisions. Sometimes, tiny holes can be used to do open heart surgery.

Utilizing a heart-lung machine for open heart surgeries, even for smaller incisions, is necessary. The physician removes the damaged aortic valve during the treatment and replaces it with a new one. 

Surgical valves come in two varieties;

Mechanical Valves: Those derived from man-made materials

Biological Valves: Those having animal or human tissue origin

Identifying symptoms early and managing the disease effectively is vital to avoid severe complications. Patients with aortic stenosis can manage their condition through lifestyle modifications or surgery. Raising awareness and encouraging healthy habits is essential in reducing the prevalence of aortic stenosis and improving the overall heart health of individuals.