Aortic Stenosis occurs when the aortic valve becomes narrowed, restricting blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body. It often develops gradually, commonly due to age-related calcification of the valve, but may also be caused by congenital abnormalities or previous infections.

Symptoms: People with aortic stenosis may experience chest pain, breathlessness, fatigue, or dizziness—particularly during exertion. In more advanced cases, fainting or swelling of the ankles may occur. Some people remain symptom-free for years before problems develop.

Diagnosis: A heart murmur can often be heard during examination and the diagnosis and severity are confirmed using an echocardiogram (heart ultrasound), which shows how well the valve is opening. Other tests such as an ECG, chest X-ray, or cardiac CT may also be required.

Treatment Options: Mild and moderate cases may only need regular monitoring. When the condition becomes severe, valve replacement—either through open-heart surgery or a minimally invasive procedure such as TAVI (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation)—is usually recommended.

Aortic Regurgitation occurs when the aortic valve does not close properly, allowing blood to leak back into the heart after each beat. This causes the heart to work harder to maintain adequate blood flow.

Symptoms: Common symptoms include breathlessness and fatigue, but symptoms can often go unnoticed for many years.

Diagnosis: A characteristic heart murmur and other clinical signs on examination can suggest aortic regurgitation, and an echocardiogram is used to confirm the diagnosis. Further tests including ECG, chest X-ray, and cardiac MRI scans may also be required in selected patients.

Treatment Options: Mild to moderate cases are monitored regularly with echocardiography. When symptoms develop or the heart shows signs of strain, valve repair or replacement surgery may be recommended.

Mitral stenosis is a narrowing of the mitral valve, which controls blood flow between the left atrium and left ventricle of the heart. It most often results from previous rheumatic fever but can also have other causes including calcification from aging.

Symptoms: Shortness of breath—especially on exertion or when lying flat—is the most common symptom. Others may include tiredness, palpitations and ankle swelling.

Diagnosis: A stethoscope examination may detect a distinctive murmur. An echocardiogram confirms the narrowing and shows its severity. ECG, chest X-ray and cardiac CT scan can also provide supportive information.

Treatment Options: Treatment depends on severity. Mild cases may be managed with medication to control symptoms and prevent complications. Severe narrowing may be treated with a keyhole balloon valvuloplasty or a surgical mitral valve replacement.

Mitral regurgitation occurs when the mitral valve does not close properly, allowing blood to leak backward into the left atrium.This can be due to valve degeneration, infection, or heart failure.

Symptoms: Breathlessness, fatigue, reduced exercise capacity, and palpitations are all common. Some people experience swelling of the ankles or worsening symptoms when lying flat.

Diagnosis: Echocardiography is key for assessing the severity of leakage and its effect on heart size and function. Sometimes other tests including ECG, stress echo, and cardiac MRI are also helpful in determining the disease severity.

Treatment Options: Mild leakage may be observed over time and often does not go on to cause a problem. Medications can be used to manage symptoms and reduce heart strain, but severe cases often require intervention with either a surgical valve repair or replacement, or a minimally invasive keyhole repair such as the Mitraclip procedure.

Tricuspid valve disease involves narrowing (stenosis) or leakage (regurgitation) of the tricuspid valve, which separates the right atrium from the right ventricle.

Symptoms: Swelling of the legs, abdomen, or neck veins, along with fatigue and shortness of breath, are typical symptoms. Some patients may also feel palpitations or discomfort in the upper abdomen.

Diagnosis: Echocardiography confirms the diagnosis. Other tests may be used to assess right heart function and pressure, such as cardiac catheterisation.

Treatment Options: Treatment focuses on managing symptoms with medication to reduce fluid retention. In more severe cases, valve repair or replacement may be advised.

Infective endocarditis is an infection of the lining of the heart valves, caused by bacteria entering the bloodstream.
It is a serious condition that requires urgent medical attention.

Symptoms: Symptoms may include fever, chills, fatigue, night sweats, and unexplained weight loss. Some patients experience new or changing heart murmurs, breathlessness, or skin changes such as small spots on the hands or feet.

Diagnosis: Blood tests to identify the infection and echocardiography to look for valve damage are key investigations. Early diagnosis is critical for successful treatment.

Treatment Options: Treatment usually involves prolonged courses of intravenous antibiotics. In some cases, surgery is needed to repair or replace damaged valves or remove infected tissue.

Angina is chest discomfort that occurs when the heart muscle doesn’t get enough oxygen-rich blood, usually due to narrowing of the coronary arteries.

Symptoms: Typical symptoms include chest tightness, heaviness, or pressure that may spread to the arms, neck, jaw, or back. It often occurs during physical activity or emotional stress and improves with rest.

Diagnosis: This is made using a combination of medical history, ECG, blood tests, and imaging such as stress tests or coronary CT scans. Coronary angiography may be used to assess blockages directly.

Treatment Options: Treatment includes lifestyle changes, medication to improve blood flow and reduce strain on the heart, and in some cases, procedures such as angioplasty or coronary bypass surgery.

Heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to pump blood effectively to meet the body’s needs.
It often develops gradually and can be caused by coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, or heart valve problems.

Symptoms: Common symptoms include breathlessness, fatigue, and swelling of the ankles or abdomen. Some people notice a need to sleep propped up on pillows or wake up short of breath at night.

Diagnosis: Diagnosis is based on symptoms, examination, and tests such as echocardiography, ECG, blood tests, and sometimes coronary angiography and cardiac MRI scans to help identify the cause of heart failure.

Treatment Options: We now have very effective medications to help improve heart function and improve patient symptoms and outcomes. Lifestyle changes are also important, and some patients may benefit from devices such as specialist pacemakers. Restoring the heart's blood supply is also an option if the cause of heart failure is due to blockages of the coronary arteries.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an irregular heart rhythm caused by disorganized electrical signals in the upper chambers of the heart.
It is common, particularly with age or in people with heart disease.

Symptoms: Patients may feel palpitations, tiredness, shortness of breath, or light-headedness. Some people have no symptoms and discover AF during a routine check-up.

Diagnosis: AF is confirmed with an ECG, sometimes supported by longer-term heart rhythm monitoring. Blood tests and echocardiography help identify underlying causes.

Treatment Options: Treatment focuses on controlling heart rate, restoring normal rhythm when appropriate, and reducing stroke risk with blood thinning medication. Lifestyle and risk factor management are also important.

Over time, high blood pressure increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease.

Symptoms: Most people have no symptoms, which is why regular blood pressure checks are important. In severe cases, headaches or visual changes may occur.

Diagnosis: Blood pressure is measured using a cuff on the arm. Sometimes, 24-hour monitoring is recommended to confirm the diagnosis and assess control.

Treatment Options: Lifestyle changes such as weight management, reduced salt intake, and regular exercise are key. Many people also need medication to lower blood pressure safely and protect long-term health.

High cholesterol increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes and peripheral vascular disease.

Symptoms: High cholesterol itself causes no symptoms. Its effects are only seen when it leads to blocked arteries and heart problems.

Diagnosis: A simple blood test measures cholesterol levels and helps assess overall cardiovascular risk. Your doctor may recommend repeating the test periodically.

Treatment Options: Dietary changes, regular exercise, and weight control are important. If cholesterol remains high, medication such as statins can effectively lower levels and reduce future heart risk.