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If you’ve been diagnosed with heart valve disease, there are probably a million thoughts and questions swirling around in your head.
Why did this happen? Can it be fixed? What does this mean for my future? And although it’s true that heart disease of any kind is concerning, getting the best care right away is the first important step to living the rest of your life with a healthy heart.
Cleveland Clinic's heart specialists and surgeons are industry leaders — world-renowned for their expertise, excellent outcomes and outstanding, compassionate patient care. You can put your trust in us throughout your journey with heart valve disease.
Cleveland Clinic is a trusted healthcare leader. We're recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for our expertise and care.
Our cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons are world-renowned for their expertise, excellent outcomes and outstanding patient care. Our heart team has received numerous awards and recognition, including receiving the highest ratings for adult cardiac surgery and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS).
Our experienced cardiothoracic surgeons perform thousands of heart valve surgeries and minimally invasive procedures each year, and often on patients with complex medical needs. That number is growing quickly as more patients travel to Cleveland Clinic from across the country and from around the world for heart care.
When you need heart valve treatment, you want the best possible care. Your team will include industry-leading cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons, anesthesiologists, pathologists, nurses and more, who’ll work together to manage your care and tailor treatments just for you. Meet our team.
If needed, Cleveland Clinic providers in other specialties will work alongside your heart team to provide comprehensive, coordinated care for complex conditions.
At Cleveland Clinic, your excellent care is always our first priority. And it shows. We consistently get top marks on satisfaction surveys, and our patients regularly recommend Cleveland Clinic for heart care.
At Cleveland Clinic, we’re at the forefront of research and innovation. We use the most advanced imaging tests and specialize in minimally invasive techniques, including transcatheter-based and robotically-assisted procedures. We’ve been instrumental in creating new treatment devices, surgical techniques and designs for replacement valves. Clinical trials are available to test new medications, treatments and therapies for those who qualify.
Our specialists are widely published in leading medical journals and textbooks, and our guidelines for patient care are used worldwide as the standard for treatment excellence.
Some heart valve diseases, like bicuspid aortic valve, pulmonary valve disease and atresia (when the valve doesn’t form properly and stays blocked) are congenital (something you’re born with). And sometimes valve diseases are acquired (developing later in life). Complications from a previous heart condition or surgery, an infection from another illness (such as rheumatic fever or endocarditis), pulmonary hypertension or simply aging can cause valve disease.
The two most common types of heart valve disease are stenosis (when the opening to your valve gets narrow or stiff) and regurgitation (when your valve doesn’t close completely and leaks).
Symptoms of heart valve disease might not be that noticeable at first. You might be very tired, have swollen ankles or feel like your heart is skipping a beat. If the disease is further along, you might have chest pain, shortness of breath or feel dizzy. You can also have heart valve disease for a long time and not feel any symptoms at all.
At your appointment, your healthcare provider will ask about your medical history, your family medical history, what symptoms you’re having and how bad they are. Your provider will also do a physical exam and may also listen to your heart through a stethoscope. If your provider hears a murmur (abnormal whooshing sounds), that might mean there’s a potential blood flow problem in one of your heart’s valves. Not all murmurs are something to worry about, but it’s important to find out what’s causing the murmur and to check on it over time.
If you have a heart murmur and/or are experiencing symptoms, your provider may order more tests to help determine which valve is having problems, what’s causing the damage and how far along the disease is. These tests may include:
Our healthcare providers see patients at convenient locations throughout Northeast Ohio, Florida and London.
The best treatment options for you will depend on several things, including which valve is having problems (aortic, pulmonary, mitral, bicuspid or tricuspid), the type of valve disease you have, how badly the valve is damaged, your age and medical history. If your symptoms are mild, your provider may simply keep an eye on your condition with regular checkups and repeated testing. If your condition is more serious, treatment options might include:
We know that traveling for any kind of healthcare can be stressful and intimidating. If you’re coming to us from another city, state or even another country, we’re here to help make things as easy and convenient as possible for you. From knowing where to stay and where to eat or shop, how to get to and from the airport, or just find your way around any of our hospitals, we’re here for you.
If you’re an international patient, our experienced and compassionate Global Patient Services (GPS) team will help you navigate the Cleveland Clinic health system. They’ll connect you with the healthcare providers you need, help make appointments, provide language translation services and coordinate follow-up care when you return home.
If left untreated, heart valve disease can severely impact daily life and even become life-threatening. With the right care from the best team, a healthy heart is within reach. Cleveland Clinic’s heart specialists and surgeons are the best of the best. Heart disease of any kind doesn’t wait. If you suspect you might have a problem with your heart, call your healthcare provider today.
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