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Heart valve disease
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Heart valve disease at HCA UK
Why choose us?
With HCA UK, your heart health is in safe hands. Choose us and as well as a choice of 250 cardiac consultants working across our network of hospitals and diagnostic centres, you’ll have access to state-of-the-art facilities and all the latest technologies.
Our leading cardiac teams have cared for almost 110,000 patients in the last three years alone and 99% of our clinical outcomes are successful. We’re expert in every aspect of diagnosis and treatment. It's why we’re the UK’s no.1 for private cardiovascular care.
Our leading cardiac teams have cared for almost 110,000 patients in the last three years alone and 99% of our clinical outcomes are successful. We’re expert in every aspect of diagnosis and treatment. It's why we’re the UK’s no.1 for private cardiovascular care.
If one or more of the valves in your heart become diseased, that can affect the flow of blood in your heart in one of two ways.
You may develop valve stenosis, which is when a valve doesn’t fully open, obstructing blood flow. Or you may develop valve incompetence, which is when the valve doesn’t close properly, allowing blood to leak backwards.
Both types of heart valve disease can put extra strain on your heart and might need expert intervention or support. While heart valve disease causes are varied, the team at HCA UK is always here to offer specialist help.
Mild heart valve disease can be difficult to diagnose because it can often be symptomless.
However, as the condition progresses, you may notice that you develop a range of heart valve disease symptoms which may include:
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Swelling in your ankles and/or your feet
- Feeling unusually fatigued
Heart valve disease is highly treatable so for peace of mind, it’s always a good idea to get any concerning symptoms expertly checked.
You may have heart valve disease because you were born with a congenital heart condition. This means you have always had one or more faulty heart valves and that condition can progress as you get older.
You may also have acquired heart valve disease. As we age, our hearts often change due to calcium build-up, or because we develop other heart conditions such as heart failure or cardiomyopathy.
Infections such as rheumatic fever or endocarditis and having a heart attack can also damage our heart valves, making heart valve disease in the elderly quite common.
Your cardiologist will give you a full diagnosis and clear answers as well as offering you the best treatment options.
You may also have acquired heart valve disease. As we age, our hearts often change due to calcium build-up, or because we develop other heart conditions such as heart failure or cardiomyopathy.
Infections such as rheumatic fever or endocarditis and having a heart attack can also damage our heart valves, making heart valve disease in the elderly quite common.
Your cardiologist will give you a full diagnosis and clear answers as well as offering you the best treatment options.
Developing mild heart valve disease is relatively common as we age and it’s usually not a cause for concern. However moderate heart valve disease can become severe if its left untreated.
That can lead to serious conditions including:
- Chest pain or shortness of breath
- Irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias) like atrial fibrillation
- Stroke
- Endocarditis (a serious heart infection)
- Heart failure
- Sudden cardiac death.
If you have any worrying symptoms, it’s good idea to get them checked by an expert as soon as possible to rule out anything serious.
Stopping smoking and cutting down how much alcohol you drink can help to reduce your risk of developing heart disease in general, including heart valve disease. So can regular exercise and eating a heart-healthy diet that’s high in fruit and vegetables and low in salt and saturated fat.
Good dental hygiene is also important, as it helps prevent infections like endocarditis which can damage heart valves. It’s also important that you keep conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes under control.
Good dental hygiene is also important, as it helps prevent infections like endocarditis which can damage heart valves. It’s also important that you keep conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes under control.
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Cardiology consultants for you to choose from
36,000+
Cardiac patients treated every year
48 hours
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Innovative treatments
See a specialist and get dedicated, expert care
State-of-the-art facilities
New techniques and technology
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Get tests, scans and results fast
Think you might have heart valve disease?
See a cardiac specialist and get an expert diagnosis
Have a referral letter and need to book?
Simply book a test, scan or treatment directly today.
Unsure of a diagnosis and need some answers?
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HEART VALVE DISEASE TESTS AND SCANS AT HCA UK
A fast and accurate diagnosis
Because it’s often symptomless, heart valve disease can be difficult to diagnose. Your cardiologist will first use a stethoscope listen for a heart murmur. This whooshing sound during your heartbeat can indicate that you have a faulty heart valve.
However, having a heart murmur doesn’t necessarily mean that there’s a problem. To form an accurate diagnosis, your cardiac specialist is likely to suggest further imaging tests such as an echocardiogram to look at how effectively your heart is functioning and to measure your blood flow.
You’ll have results back within 48 hours.
- Stethoscope examination
- Echocardiogram
HEART VALVE DISEASE TREATMENTS AT HCA UK
Specialist support, here for you
Heart valve disease treatment options are varied. What’s best for you will depend on what’s caused your heart valve problem, and the effect it’s having on your overall heart function.
If your symptoms stay stable and don’t impact your daily life, your cardiologist may suggest heart valve disease treatment without surgery. You’ll be advised to make some lifestyle changes, and they’ll likely ask you to return in a year's time for a review.
If your symptoms are more progressed and concerning, they may advise that you take medication or have heart valve surgery to repair or replace your faulty heart valve.
- Medication
- Lifestyle changes
- Surgery
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.
Heart valve disease FAQs
Lifestyle changes can lower your risk of developing heart valve disease, and maintaining a heart-healthy lifestyle is key. Getting regular exercise is important and so is eating a balanced diet that’s high in vegetables and fruit, both of which should help you to maintain a healthy weight.
If you smoke, you’ll be advised to stop, and you should also limit how much alcohol you drink.
Looking after your teeth helps prevent heart infections such as endocarditis which can damage your heart valves. If you have high blood pressure or diabetes you should also do your best to keep these under control.
If you smoke, you’ll be advised to stop, and you should also limit how much alcohol you drink.
Looking after your teeth helps prevent heart infections such as endocarditis which can damage your heart valves. If you have high blood pressure or diabetes you should also do your best to keep these under control.
Yes, it is and the specialist team at HCA UK is here to help. You can be treated for heart valve disease at across HCA UK’s six specialist cardiac hospitals in London and Birmingham, where our teams of cardiac specialists is waiting to help. They’re supported by the latest technologies and state-of-the-art cardiac facilities.
Some kinds of heart valve disease can be passed down to you in your genes from your parents, although that’s not always the case. You may also develop the disease as you age.
Disease of your bicuspid aortic valve is the most common congenital heart condition, known to run in families. If mitral valve regurgitation is caused by a prolapsed valve, that may also be an inherited condition.
If you have a family history of heart valve disease, it’s always a good idea to get any worrying symptoms expertly checked to rule out anything serious.
Disease of your bicuspid aortic valve is the most common congenital heart condition, known to run in families. If mitral valve regurgitation is caused by a prolapsed valve, that may also be an inherited condition.
If you have a family history of heart valve disease, it’s always a good idea to get any worrying symptoms expertly checked to rule out anything serious.
Heart valve disease is a common and treatable condition that affects 1.5 million people aged over 65 in the UK. Lots of patients want to know how long you can live with heart valve disease. Although it can be a serious condition, the good news is that heart valve disease life expectancy can also be good.
If it’s diagnosed and treated early, you can live well and live long with expert monitoring and support.
If it’s diagnosed and treated early, you can live well and live long with expert monitoring and support.
It’s important to talk to your cardiologist about your own condition but yes, gentle exercise generally helps with managing heart valve disease by improving your overall fitness and well-being.
Low-impact activities such as walking, swimming and Pilates or yoga are often recommended, however getting personalised advice is crucial. With some forms of the disease, exercise may not be advised.
Your cardiologist will be able to recommend which type of exercise might be best for you and advise on how intensely you should exercise, depending on your specific valve condition.
Low-impact activities such as walking, swimming and Pilates or yoga are often recommended, however getting personalised advice is crucial. With some forms of the disease, exercise may not be advised.
Your cardiologist will be able to recommend which type of exercise might be best for you and advise on how intensely you should exercise, depending on your specific valve condition.
Aortic stenosis is a type of heart valve disease in which the aortic valve (between your lower left heart chamber and the aorta, your body's main artery) stops fully opening. This can slow or even block blood flowing from your heart to the rest of your body and so it can be life-threatening if left untreated.
How we treat aortic stenosis will depend on how far your condition has progressed. If it’s very advanced, you may need surgery to fix or replace the valve.
How we treat aortic stenosis will depend on how far your condition has progressed. If it’s very advanced, you may need surgery to fix or replace the valve.
Yes, it is. This common condition affects the valve between your left heart chambers.
The flaps of the mitral valve are floppy and can bulge backward (prolapse) into your heart's left upper chamber as your heart contracts. This can cause mitral valve regurgitation, with blood leaking backward across the valve.
The flaps of the mitral valve are floppy and can bulge backward (prolapse) into your heart's left upper chamber as your heart contracts. This can cause mitral valve regurgitation, with blood leaking backward across the valve.
Our patients’ stories
David’s story: Recognising the need for urgent acute care
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.
Our locations
The Harley Street Clinic
35 Weymouth Street W1G 8BJ London
The Wellington Hospital
8A Wellington Place St John's Wood NW8 9LE London
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
“We felt like we weren’t invisible. We felt involved in how the treatment and recovery progressed. They paid attention to what I was saying as I can recognise David’s symptoms.”
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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.