What is aortic valve stenosis?
The role of the aortic valve is to prevent blood from flowing backward into the heart after the left ventricle squeezes to eject blood forward toward the body. Normally the valve is made of three thin cusps that open quickly to allow blood to leave the heart. Over many years, these cusps may become thicker and calcified. When these thickened cusps do not open easily (stenosis) the left ventricle has to work harder to eject blood through the valve and forward to the body. When aortic stenosis is severe the heart must generate much greater pressure to eject blood. Over time this “extra” work can cause the left ventricle to enlarge and weaken. Patients with aortic stenosis may feel fatigue, shortness of breath, extra or irregular heartbeats (palpitations), blackouts or sudden death.
