How Is Heart Valve Disease Diagnosed?
Your primary care provider may detect a
heart
murmur or other signs of heart valve disease. However, a cardiologist will
usually diagnose the condition. A cardiologist is a doctor who specializes in
treating heart problems.
To diagnose heart valve disease, your doctor will
ask about your symptoms. (See "What Are the
Signs and Symptoms of Heart Valve Disease?")
He or she also will do a physical exam and look at
the results of medical tests and imaging.
Physical Exam
Your doctor will listen to your heart with a
stethoscope to find out if you have a heart murmur that's likely caused by a
heart valve problem.
Your doctor also will listen to your lungs as you
breathe to check for fluid buildup. He or she will check for swollen ankles and
other signs that your body is keeping in water.
Tests and Procedures
The main test for diagnosing heart valve disease is
echocardiography.
But an EKG
(electrocardiogram) or chest x ray is commonly used to reveal certain signs of
the condition. If these signs are present, echocardiography usually is done to
confirm the diagnosis.
Your doctor also may have you undergo other tests,
such as
cardiac
catheterization,
stress
testing, or
cardiac
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), if you're diagnosed with heart valve
disease. These tests and procedures can help your doctor better assess how
severe your condition is and plan treatment.
Electrocardiogram
This is a simple test that detects and records the
electrical activity of your heart. It can detect an irregular heartbeat and
signs of a previous
heart
attack. It can also show whether certain chambers of your heart are
enlarged.
An EKG usually is done in your doctor's office.
Chest X Ray
This test can show whether certain sections of your
heart are enlarged, whether you have fluid in your lungs, or whether there are
calcium deposits in your heart.
This test helps your doctor learn which type of
valve defect you have, how severe it is, and whether you have any other heart
problems.
Echocardiography
The test uses sound waves to create a moving picture
of your heart as it beats. A wand that's placed on the surface of your chest
transmits the sound waves. Echoes from the sound waves are converted into
pictures of your heart on a computer screen.
An echocardiogram can show:
- The size and shape of your heart valves and
chambers
- How well your heart is pumping blood
- Whether a valve is narrowed or has backflow
Your doctor may recommend a transesophageal
(tranz-ih-sof-uh-JEE-ul) echocardiogram, or TEE, to get a better image.
For a TEE, the sound wave wand is put on the end of
a special tube. The tube is passed down your throat and into your esophagus
(the tube leading from your mouth to your stomach). You will be given medicine
to relax you during this procedure.
Cardiac Catheterization
For this procedure, a long, thin, flexible tube
called a catheter is put into a blood vessel in your arm, upper thigh (groin),
or neck and threaded into your heart. Your doctor uses x-ray images to guide
the catheter.
Through the catheter, your doctor does diagnostic
tests and imaging that show whether backflow is occurring through a valve and
how fully the valve opens. You're given medicine to help you relax, but you're
awake during the procedure.
Your doctor may order a cardiac catheterization if
your signs and symptoms of heart valve disease aren't in line with your
echocardiography results. The procedure also can help your doctor assess
whether your symptoms are due to specific valve problems or
coronary
artery disease. All of this information helps your doctor decide the best
way to treat you.
Stress Test
During stress testing, you exercise to make your
heart work hard and beat fast while heart tests and imaging are done. If you
can't exercise, you'll be given medicine to make your heart work hard and beat
fast.
A stress test can show whether you have signs and
symptoms of heart valve disease when your heart is working hard. It can help
your doctor assess the severity of your heart valve disease.
Cardiac MRI
Cardiac MRI uses a powerful magnet and radio waves
to make detailed images of your heart. A cardiac MRI image can confirm
information about valve defects or provide more detailed information.
This information can help your doctor plan your
treatment. An MRI also may be done before heart valve surgery to help your
surgeon plan for the surgery. |