What Is Heart Valve Disease?
Heart valve diseases is a disease of the heart (cardiovascular) that occurs when one of valves of the heart do not function properly by opening and closing for pumping of blood in and out of the heart. In a case when more than one valve is affected is called multiple valvular.
Sometimes the valve opening become narrow and restrict the easy flow of blood, the condition is called Stenosis. The open and close of the valves controls and regulate the blood flowing into and outside the heart.
There three leaflets or flaps that works together in opening and closing for pumping and proper flows of blood across the the opening. The leaflets are from the heart valves. During heart beat the valve leaflets of a healthy heart functions well by fully opening and closing but an unhealthy heart valves leaflets may not fully open and close causing shortage of blood supply to the body. The condition where by the diseased or damaged valves become leaky, that's not closing completely is called regurgitation. The process leads to the blood leaking back to the heart chamber, therefore allowing low amount of blood to push forward through the heart. Research carried out by some cardiac researchers and cardiologist have shown that any valve can be in disease or damaged conditions but the most common one is the aortic valves. The heart can't effectively pump blood through out the body causing the heart to work harder in order to pump blood. Due to the blood leaking back to the heart chamber or on a narrowed opening. This condition can leads to heart failure, cardiac arrest,that's when the will suddenly stop beating.
What Are The Causes Of Valvular Heart Disease?
- The valvular heart disease can be caused by many factors which includes:
- Congenital conditions: The Bicuspid aortic valves is the most commonly affected valve associated with congenital condition, (they are born with the condition) In this case the valve has only two leaflets rather than three.
- Rheumatic disease: This type is valvular happens when the infection caused by the bacteria that caused strep Throat is not treated on time.The infection may cause scarring of the heart valves. Researchers and study and shown that is the most common type of valve disease worldwide.
- Endocardtis: This type is caused by an infection of the inner lining of the heart which is caused by severe infection in the blood stream, this may settle and damage the leaflets. The use of intravenous drugs can cause Endocardtis.
- Heart failure: This type is when the heart can't pump enough blood to supply adequate oxygen to the whole body organs.
- Thoracic aortic aneurysm: This type is caused by a kind of bulge or balloon like on the area of the heart where the aorta is attached.
- Heart attack: The muscles that controls and regulates the opening and closing of the valves can be damage therefore leading to poor pumping of blood in the heart, heart attack is also known as myocardial infarction or simply MI.
- Atherosclerosis: The building up of plaques on the inside of the blood vessels, the plaques are made up of fats,cholesterol, calcium and certain toxins.
- Lupus: An autoimmune disease attacking the heart.
- Aging: Aging is one of the factors that can cause valvular. As one ages the process can leads to the depositions of calcium in the heart valves making the valves becoming stiff or thickened and less efficient with age.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Valve Disease:
- The signs and symptoms of valve disease is the same with most of the cardiovascular diseases. Proper check will help to diagnose the condition. The signs includes:
- shortness of breath, fatigue, weakness in the whole body.
- fainting.
- lightheadedness.
- chest pain.
- swollen feet.
- swollen ankles.
- swollen abdomen can't maintain normal physical activities level, skips or rapid heart beat (palpitation).
- problem with vision.
Sometimes symptoms don't necessary determine the severely or seriousness of the condition, A valve disease may be severe but will mild or no symptoms while in some cases valve disease may be insignificant in damage especially in leaking back of blood to the heart chamber but become very problematic due to the uncomfortable painful symptoms.
See and consult your Doctor (cardiologist) if you notice any of the above symptoms, finally consult a dietitian to plan a healthy heart friendly menu for you to manage the valvular disease and also to keep the heart healthy.
What Are The Dietary Management Of Valvular?
Foods to avoid includes:
- Salt (sodium) restrict sodium intake ,Saturated fats (animals fat).
- Trans fat such as butter and margarine.
- Sugars such added sugars and sugary juice such and drinks such as kola.
- fruits and vegetables juices with sugar.
- Smoking: smoking may affects the valves due to excess gas inhaled which can damage the heart valves.
- Alcohol: avoid alcohol, is too hard on the heart.
- Coffee (carinated coffee).
- Polished and dehulled grains and cereals.
- Artificial additives most of the artificial additives are cancerous.
- Fried and oily foods.
- sugary and fatty milk processed foods (such canned and package foods.
- fatty meat and chicken.
- Proceeded grains and cereals such as pastas, white rice 🍚, white bread 🍞.
- Avoid catfish, its high in omega 6 faty acids which is bad for the heart.
- Avoid the intake of cold drinks and water.
What are the foods allowed:
- Fresh vegetables: such as cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes 🍅, carrots 🥕, egg garden.
- Dark green leafy vegetables: such as pumpkins leaves, water leaf baobab leaf,moringa leaf.
- Fruits such as: apple 🍏, mango 🥭, pawpaw, oranges 🍊, avocado 🥑, banana 🍌, strawberries.
- Omega 3 fatty acid from fish 🐟 such as sardine: mackerel, herring and salmon.
- Note: catfish is not included.
- Unsaturated fats such as olive oil.
- Whole grains and cereals, this will help to get enough fiber.
- Eat whole fruits or smoothies instead of juices from fruits.
- Sugar free and fat free milk and milk products such as skim milk.
- Herbal tea such as turmeric, cynamon, ginger, cloves, garlic, mint leaves, moringa tea.
- Legumes such as beans, peas, bambaranut and lentils.
- Improve the level of physical activities (walking for at least 30--1 hour a daily.
- Take up 8 glasses of clean water daily. Sleep early and wake early.Sleep for at least 8 hours.
- 1 glass of warm water first thing in the morning.
Dietitian. +2348137323444