Structural Heart Disease Specialist

What are the different types of structural heart disease?

Structural heart disease refers to the disorders and defects affecting the heart valves and the tissues that form your heart. Examples of the structural heart diseases frequently treated at Pinnacle Healthcare System include:

Atrial septal defect (ASD)

An atrial septal defect occurs when a baby is born with a hole in the wall that separates the two upper chambers. The hole allows excess blood to flow through the lungs.

Ventricular septal defect

A ventricular septal defect is another congenital condition that causes a hole in the wall separating the heart’s lower chambers. The hole allows blood to pass from the left to the right side of the heart, and the oxygen-rich blood goes back to the lungs instead of out to your body.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

If you have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, your heart muscle becomes unusually thick. As the muscle thickens, your heart has a hard time pumping blood. In some cases, the thick wall interferes with blood flow out of your heart.

Aortic diseases

Your aorta, the largest blood vessel in your body, carries oxygen-rich blood from your heart to your body.

The list of aortic diseases is long, so these are just a few examples:

• Aortic aneurysm
• Aortic dissection
• Aortic rupture
• Bicuspid aortic disease
• Coarctation of the aorta
• Giant cell arteritis
• Inflammatory aortic disease

Connective tissue disorders such as Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome also cause problems with the aorta. They increase the risk of aortic aneurysms and dissections.

What symptoms develop if I have structural heart disease?

Structural heart diseases cause a range of symptoms, including:

• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Fatigue
• Tight feeling in your chest
• Hypertension
• Leg cramps
• Lightheadedness
• Irregular heartbeats
• Renal disease (kidney disease)
• Swelling of your ankles, feet, or abdomen

Swelling occurs due to a buildup of fluid called edema.

How is structural heart disease treated?

After reviewing your medical history and symptoms, your provider at Pinnacle Healthcare System performs a physical exam and diagnostic imaging. The diagnostic tests needed to identify structural heart disease, including echocardiography and vascular flow studies, are done in the office.

The treatment for structural heart disease ranges from taking blood thinners and other medications to surgery. Your provider may need to repair tissues, implant a defibrillator or pacemaker, or replace a valve.

To learn more about structural heart disease or to schedule an appointment, call the office or book online today.