David is an energetic, friendly, 78 year old man with a smile that lights up a room. You’d never guess he’s managing two ongoing heart conditions – aortic stenosis and atrial fibrillation – and has recently recovered from acute pulmonary oedema, a condition that required a 10-day hospital stay.
Aortic stenosis
- No.1 in the UK for private cardiac care
- Appointments in as little as 24 hours
- 99% of our cardiac patients would recommend us to friends and family
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AORTIC STENOSIS AT HCA HEALTHCARE UK
Why choose us?
We’re the UK’s No.1 for private cardiovascular care. That means our cardiology specialists see over 36,000 people each year – more than any other UK private healthcare provider, and 99% of those people are happy to recommend us to family and friends. The reason? State-of-the-art facilities, an extensive diagnostic network, and successful treatment.
You’ll have a choice of more than 235 consultants, supported by clinical nurse specialists, physiologists, radiographers and more. For personalised, expert care with your wellbeing at its heart, you’re in the right place.
You’ll have a choice of more than 235 consultants, supported by clinical nurse specialists, physiologists, radiographers and more. For personalised, expert care with your wellbeing at its heart, you’re in the right place.
Also known as aortic valve stenosis, this condition occurs when the aortic valve, located in your heart, narrows or gets blocked. This can restrict the blood flow around your body, causing a whole range of symptoms and serious health problems.
If you’re concerned that you may have aortic stenosis, we can give you access to specialist cardiologists for an accurate diagnosis and rapid pathways to the most effective treatment for your condition.
Everything you need is available through our private network.
Many patients can have aortic stenosis for many years without realising, until it’s picked up in a routine health check. However, there are warning symptoms you may experience, and they can range from mild to severe. They include:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain (angina)
- Extreme fatigue, particularly while being active
- Fainting or dizziness, particularly while being active
- Heart murmur
- Heart palpitations
If you’re worried about your symptoms, we can help.
There are a range of factors that can play a part in aortic stenosis. Your consultant will talk to you about your medical history, and help you understand more about your personal risks. The most common causes are:
- Congenital defect: A common cause in children, this is a heart issue that develops while they’re in the womb. It’s not clear why congenital defects arise, but there might be an increased risk if there’s a family history, or if the child’s mother suffered from a condition such as diabetes when pregnant.
- Age: Calcium can build-up in the heart over time, resulting in a narrowing of the valve. We most commonly see this in patients over the age of 65.
- Infection: Certain infections can cause damage if left untreated, such as strep throat and scarlet fever, which can then lead to rheumatic fever.
- A range of other conditions: There’s a link between aortic stenosis and autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatic fever.
Signs of aortic valve stenosis may be similar to conditions that warrant emergency treatment, such as a heart attack. Call 999 straight away if you suddenly experience any of the following:
- Severe pain or chest tightness that spreads to the arm, shoulder, neck, jaw, back or stomach
- Severe breathlessness
- Blackouts
- Seizures or fits
200+
expert cardiology consultants to choose from
26,000+
cardiac patients treated each year
99%
success rate across all cardiac surgery
Next-day appointments
See a specialist and get on the path to an expert diagnosis in as little as 24 hours.
State-of-the-art diagnostics
With results in as little as 48 hours.
Wide-reaching expertise across the UK
Choose from 5 hospitals and 15 diagnostic centres in London, Manchester and Birmingham.
Worried about your heart, but not sure what to do?
Get in touch and book a same or next-day GP appointment.
Have a referral and need to book?
Simply book a test, scan or treatment directly today.
Unsure of a diagnosis and need some answers?
Talk to a cardiologist and get the answers you’ve been looking for.
AORTIC STENOSIS TESTS AND SCANS AT HCA UK
Expert diagnosis, fast results
If you’re worried you may have symptoms of aortic stenosis, then the first step is getting a fast, accurate diagnosis.
At HCA UK, you’ll have access to the most comprehensive private cardiac diagnostics network in the UK, including state-of-the-art imaging technology. You’ll also have results in as little as two working days so you can get a fast track to the treatment you need, when you need it.
We offer a wide range of diagnostic tests for aortic stenosis, including:
AORTIC STENOSIS TREATMENTS AT HCA UK
Expert care with excellent outcomes
Our wealth of experience and expertise in cardiac care means we deliver extraordinary outcomes for our patients, with a 99% surgical success rate across all cardiac surgery.
Your recommended treatment will depend on the severity of your condition, and can range from recommendations for healthy lifestyle changes to medication, or surgery to repair or replace your aortic valve and restore proper function to your heart.
The treatments we offer include:
- Aortic stenosis medication
- Aortic valve replacement
- TAVI (transcatheter aortic valve implantation)
- Balloon valvuloplasty
Accessing private health care
Self-pay
You don’t need health insurance to be seen quickly. If you’re looking for a diagnosis or treatment and don’t want to wait, all our private healthcare services – from private GP appointments through to surgery and aftercare – can be paid for as and when you need them.
And to give you peace of mind from the start, we’ll offer you a clear and transparent quote outlining exactly what’s included in your self-pay package.
FAQs
If your treatment plan for aortic stenosis includes medication, you might be prescribed drugs that can influence the rhythm of your heart such as:
- Beta blockers: If you have chest pain (angina), beta-blockers can help to reduce episodes by lowering your heart rate and blood pressure
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors: These help to manage high blood pressure, a common condition that can worsen aortic stenosis
- Diuretics: These can help to eliminate excess fluid buildup in cases of heart failure due to aortic stenosis
Your individual risks will depend on the nature of your specific condition and any other health concerns that you may already be dealing with. Your consultant will explain these to you before your procedure but it's important to be aware that if you've been recommended surgery, the benefits will outweigh the risks.
Risks of any type of heart surgery can include:
- Death, however, the risk of this is very small
- Heart attack
- Bleeding
- Developing an arrhythmia
- Small risk of stroke
- The need for further aortic valve stenosis surgery
Minimally invasive procedures typically carry less risk than more serious surgeries such as open-heart surgery.
Bear in mind that aortic stenosis can be an extremely serious condition. Over time, and if not treated, it can lead to serious health problems such as heart failure, stroke, blood clots and even death.
With the right diagnosis and treatment, the complications associated with the condition can be significantly reduced. Your cardiologist can help you to understand and balance all the factors in your particular case.
The good news is that the vast majority of procedures are extremely successful. Patients typically go on to have a better quality of life with a longer life-expectancy after surgery. The overall survival rate of our isolated aortic valve replacement surgeries is 99.5% (measured from 2021 - 2023).
Yes, absolutely. The decision as to whether to surgically intervene or not is often complex. Whether you should have conventional surgery, or a TAVI procedure also depends on multiple factors. Your cardiologist will frequently take your case to a large multi-disciplinary meeting at which many clinicians will be present. Your case will be presented and discussed and a recommendation made specifically for you.
Like adults, children can experience mild or severe symptoms of aortic valve stenosis. Beyond the usual symptoms, additional signs in children include:
- Not eating enough
- Failing to gain enough weight
- Blue colour around the lips due to low oxygen levels
Our patients' stories
David’s story: Recognising the need for urgent acute care
Kirti's heart rhythm story
How a life-changing cardiac procedure stopped Kirti worrying about her heart health. Kirti first felt a heart palpitation back in 2016 whilst out shopping. After delaying seeking specialist advice, she sought the expertise of Dr Mike Koa-Wing, Consultant Cardiologist at The Wellington Hospital, in 2020 after the palpations got worse. Here Kirti shares her story.
Treating Helaina's heart rhythm disorder
Helaina from Northamptonshire was just 16 when she began experiencing unusual symptoms, including shortness of breath and heart palpitations, which rapidly worsened. She was otherwise fit, healthy and a huge lover of the great outdoors, leading to her family to grow concerned.
“We felt involved in how the treatment and recovery progressed. They paid attention to what I was saying.”
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This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.