Damage to Heart Valves

Heart Valves Heart disease is something that is negatively impacting 735 thousand Americans annually. Most patients manifest heart failure based upon inactivity and poor diet. This makes it difficult for the body to adequately pump blood to the rest of the body. Older adults will develop the condition based upon an increase in weight and they will have excessive fluid in their legs and arms. Someone who is suffering from heart failure will have blood pressure of 160 / 100 and above. Their arterial pressure will be 179 / 109 and central venous pressure is 180 / 110.

This places tremendous amounts of strain on their valves. Once this occurs, is when the damage can become severe and negatively impact the underlying health of the patient causing cardiac arrest. (Silverstein, 2006) To fully understand what is occurring requires focusing on the extent of these injuries, the deformities and impact it is having on cardiac functioning. Together these elements will highlight the long-term effects of this condition on the values of heart. Explain the severe valve deformities and the way it can tamper with the cardiac function.

Heart valve disease is problem with one or more valves of the heart. These are openings which move in a forward direction and allow blood to flow easily go through different chambers. Each one pumps and filters blood around the body using a complex network of vessels and arteries. The values will open and close into the chamber to allow the flow of oxygen and nutrients to various systems and organs. (Robinson, 2007) There are a number of valve deformities which can occur.

They can be genetic or develop over the course of type from poor lifestyle choices. The most notable include: Mitral valve prolapse (MVP), mitral stenosis, mitral regurgitation, aortic stenosis and aortic regurgitation. MVP occurs when the mitral valve on the heart bulges and restricts the flow of blood. Mitral stenosis is a narrowing of the inside values. Mitral regurgitation is when the flow of blood is blocked and begins moving back and to the left. Aortic stenosis causes the leaflets inside the heart to become constricted.

This has a direct impact on the ability of blood to flow into the heart. Aortic regurgitation is when the valve does not close properly and blood begins leak into the left ventricle. (Robinson, 2007) Each one of these deformities will impact cardiac functioning by making it difficult for the blood to move through the body. This will force the heart to beat faster in order to continuing functioning. Once this happens, is when excessive blood will build up and the condition will become worse.

It is at this point, when a person can go into cardiac arrest. (Robinson, 2007) In many cases, these issues can have a negative impact on other parts of the body. For instance, acute decompensation occurs when fluid leaks into the lungs and the lymphatics have trouble clearing the blood stream. This makes it difficult for the.