Healthy Heart Tips For Kids – Men – Women

Heart Valve Disease Treatment in India with economical, affordable, budget saving, world-class facilities, best accommodation, this is exactly what medical tourism brought for you in India. As health care costs skyrocket, patients in the developed world are looking overseas for medical treatment. India is capitalizing on its low costs and highly trained doctors to appeal to these “medical tourists”. Many countries have developed links for speedy treatments in India for their nationals on account of the fact that in these countries one has to wait for extended periods of time to undergo operations. The reason India is a favorable destination is because of it’s infrastructure and technology in which is in par with those in USA, UK and Europe. India has some of the best hospitals and treatment centers in the world with the best facilities. Health care centers of Delhi, Goa, and Kerala fulfill the same requirements for Heart valve disease treatment in India.

Heart valve disease also known as Valvular heart disease. Heart valve disease is a condition in which one or more of your heart valves don’t work properly. The heart consists of four chambers, two atria (upper chambers) and two ventricles (lower chambers). There is a valve through which blood passes before leaving each chamber of the heart. The valves prevent the backward flow of blood. These valves are actual flaps that are located on each end of the two ventricles (lower chambers of the heart). They act as one-way inlets of blood on one side of a ventricle and one-way outlets of blood on the other side of a ventricle. Normal valves have three flaps, except the mitral valve, which has two flaps.

When the ventricles are full, the mitral and tricuspid valves shut. This prevents blood from flowing backward into the atria while the ventricles contract (squeeze). As the ventricles begin to contract, the pulmonic and aortic valves are forced open and blood is pumped out of the ventricles through the open valves into the pulmonary artery toward the lungs, the aorta, and the body. When the ventricles finish contracting and begin to relax, the aortic and pulmonic valves snap shut. These valves prevent blood from flowing back into the ventricles. This pattern is repeated over and over, causing blood to flow continuously to the heart, lungs and body.

Types of different Heart valve disease in India:

There are several types of heart valve disease.

Valvular stenosis: This occurs when a valve opening is smaller than normal due to stiff or fused leaflets. The narrowed opening may make the heart work very hard to pump blood through it. This can lead to heart failure and other symptoms (see below). All four valves can be stenotic (hardened, restricting blood flow); the conditions are called tricuspid stenosis, pulmonic stenosis, mitral stenosis or aortic stenosis. Valvular insufficiency: Also called regurgitation, incompetence or “leaky valve”, this occurs when a valve does not close tightly. If the valves do not seal, some blood will leak backwards across the valve. As the leak worsens, the heart has to work harder to make up for the leaky valve, and less blood may flow to the rest of the body. Depending on which valve is affected, the conditioned is called tricuspid regurgitation, pulmonary regurgitation, mitral regurgitation or aortic regurgitation.

Causes for heart valve disease in India:

Valve disease can develop before birth (congenital) or can be acquired sometime during one’s lifetime. Sometimes the cause of valve disease is unknown.

Congenital valve disease: Most often affects the aortic or pulmonic valve. Valves may be the wrong size, have malformed leaflets, or have leaflets that are not attached to the annulus correctly.

Bicuspid aortic valve disease is a congenital valve disease that affects the aortic valve. Instead of the normal three leaflets or cusps, the bicuspid aortic valve has only two. Without the third leaflet, the valve may be stiff (unable to open or close properly) or leaky (not able close tightly).

Acquired valve disease This includes problems that develop with valves that were once normal. These may involve changes in the structure or your valve due to a variety of diseases or infections, including rheumatic fever or endocarditis.

Symptoms of Heart valve disease in India:

Mild heart valve disease may not cause any symptoms. The following are the most common symptoms of heart valve disease. However, each individual in India may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may vary depending on the type of heart valve disease present and may include:

Chest pain Palpitations caused by irregular heartbeats migraine headaches fatigue dizziness low or high blood pressure, depending on which valve disease is present shortness of breath abdominal pain due to an enlarged liver (if there is tricuspid valve malfunction)

Symptoms of heart valve disease in India may resemble other medical conditions and problems. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.

Treatment for heart valve disease in India:

In some cases, the only treatment for heart valve disease may be careful medical supervision. However, other treatment options may include medication, surgery to repair the valve, or surgery to replace the valve. Specific treatment will be determined by your physician based on:

your age, overall health and medical history extent of the disease the location of the valve your signs and symptoms your tolerance for specific medication, procedures, or therapies expectations for the course of the disease your opinion or preference

Treatment varies, depending on the type of heart valve disease, and may include one, or a combination of methods.

In India, medical treatment is not only fast but also costs a fraction of what it costs in USA or Europe for Heart valve disease. Even tele-consultancy is available for expert opinion and transmission facilities. Some of the states have already established themselves as destinations for health care and medical tourism. Medical tourism has become a common form of vacationing, and covers a broad spectrum of medical services. Medical tourism mixes leisure, fun and relaxation together with wellness and healthcare. In addition to the excellent medical facilities, the country boasts many attractions that appeal to medical tourists who are interested in experiencing the culture, recuperating on a beach or taking in the many natural wonders.

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Heart Valve Repacement or repair surgery in India

Heart Valves and it Role
Blood is pumped through your heart in only one direction. Heart valves play a key role in this one-way blood flow, opening and closing with each heartbeat. Pressure changes on either side of the valves cause them to open their flap-like “doors” (called cusps or leaflets) at just the right time, then close tightly to prevent a backflow of blood. Heart valve disease occurs when a valve doesn’t work right. A valve may not open all the way. Or a valve may have problems closing. If valve doesn’t open all the way then less blood moves through to the next chamber or if a valve doesn’t close tightly, blood may leak backward. These problems implies that the heart have to work harder to pump the same amount of blood. Or, blood may back up in the lungs or body because it’s not moving through the heart as it should.

There are 4 valves in the heart:

Tricuspid valve (located between the upper–right chamber (right atrium) and the lower–right chamber (right ventricle) of the heart. Pulmonary valve (located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery, which is the main artery that carries the oxygen–poor blood from the heart to the lungs for more oxygen). Mitral valve (is located between the left atrium and the left ventricle and is the most common valve to be repaired.) Aortic valve (between the left ventricle and the aorta, which is the main artery that carries the oxygen–rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body).

Medical datas reveals that Mitral and Aortic valves of the heart mostly requires for repair or replace. These valves are on the left side of the heart, which works harder than the right. They control the flow of oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the rest of the body.

What is Heart valve surgery?

Heart valve surgery is used to repair or replace diseased heart valves. Repair means that the valve is mended, while replacement means the diseased valve is removed and a new valve is inserted in its place.There are a number of approaches physicians can take to repair defective heart valves. The best approach depends on the nature of the valve problem, and the condition of the patient suffering with valve disease.If valve damage is mild, doctors may be able to treat it with medicines. If damage to the valve is severe, surgery to repair or replace the valve may be needed. In some cases, existing heart valves can be repaired, If they cannot be repaired then they are needed to be replaced.

What is Heart valve repair and what are the procedures?

Valve repair can usually be done on congenital valve defects that is defects that the patients are born with and has a good success record with treating mitral valve defects.

Here are some procedures surgeons may use to repair a valve:

Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty : This is a nonsurgical procedure to treat stenosis. In this procedure, local anesthetic is used by the cardiologist to numb the area of the body generally the groin. From where catheter( a thin flexible tube) in inserted into the blood vessel and fed all the way up to the heart. Once the damaged valve is reached, a balloon at the tip of the catheter is inflated. The inflated balloon stretches, widens and separates the narrowed valve. This procedure is suggested for patients who cannot undergo open–heart surgery because of failing health or other reasons. However in some cases there is a risk that the repaired valve may re–narrow (restenosis) or that it may no longer be able to close properly, allowing blood to leak back in the wrong direction (regurgitation). Valvotomy : A valvotomy (also known as a valvulotomy) is a type of open–heart surgery in which the surgeon cuts into a valve to repair valvular damage. In this procedure narrowed valve leaflets are widened by carefully opening the fused leaflets or commissures with a scalpel.This is a procedure to strengthens the leaflets to provide more support and to let the valve close tightly. This support comes from a ring-like device that surgeons attach around the outside of the valve opening. Decalcification : In this process the calcium buildup is removed from the leaflets. Once the calcium is removed, the leaflets can close properly. Reshaping : Here the surgeon cuts out a section of a leaflet. Once the leaflet is sewn back together, the valve can close properly. Patching : In this process the surgeon covers holes or tears in the leaflets with a tissue patch. Repair of structural support : In this process the cardiologist replaces or shortens the cords that give the valves support (these cords are called the chordae tendineae and the papillary muscles). When the cords are the right length, the valve can close properly.

What is Heart Valve replacement and what are it’s type?

Severe valve disease means that the valve cannot be repaired, then it is need to be replaced. Valve replacement is an open-heart surgery and is mostly used to treat aortic valves and severely damaged mitral valves. It is also used to treat any valve disease that is life-threatening. . This type of procedure is typically used on heart valves that leak or on those that have thickened, hardened or stretched. Sometimes, more than one valve may be damaged in the heart, so patients may need more than one repair or replacement.

There are 2 kinds of artificial valves used for valve replacement:

Mechanical valves : These are usually made from materials such as plastic, carbon, or metal. Mechanical valves are strong, designed to last about 30 years, so they are often used if all other factors are equal. Because blood tends to stick to mechanical valves and create blood clots, patients with these valves will need to take blood-thinning medicines (called anticoagulants) for the rest of their lives. Biological valves : This type of valve may be an autograft (from the patient’s own tissue), a xenograft which are made from animal tissue (a pig or cow) or an allograft or homograft (taken from the human tissue of a donated heart ). Patients with biological valves usually do not need to take blood-thinning medicines. These valves are not as strong as mechanical valves, though, and they may need to be replaced every 10 years or so. Biological valves break down even faster in children and young adults, so these valves are used most often in elderly patients.

The Question that must be striking in our mind is why To Select India for such Treatments ?

India offers World Class Medical Facilities, comparable with any of the western countries. India has state of the art Hospitals and the best qualified doctors. With the best infrastructure, the best possible Medical facilities, accompanied with the most competitive prices, you can get the treatment done in India at the lowest charges. People from different walks of life cut across the entire span of the globe come to India to have their treatments done with peace of mind. India’s excellent education system is not only churning out computer programmers and engineers, but an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 doctors and nurses each and every year. The list of India Best Hospitals includes Apollo, Fortis, Max Healthcare, Escorts, AIIMs, Wockhardt, etc. A few top Medical tourism providers are Malaysia medical, IndiaHeals- medical tourism in india. With time more and more visitors will flock to this part of the globe for their treatment and relaxation needs.

Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals New Delhi is part of the Apollo Hospitals Group and is a multi-specialty tertiary care Institute with over 50 medical and surgical disciplines. With over 7000 beds in 38 hospitals, a string of nursing and hospital management colleges, and dual lifelines of pharmacies and diagnostic clinics providing a safety net across Asia, Apollo Hospitals is a healthcare powerhouse you can trust with your life.
Narayana Hospitals Bangalore is one the best hospitals in India, in the field of Cardiology, Pediatric care, Neurology, Gastroentrology, Nephrology & Urology and Transplants. The rich come here for the world’s best heart care. The poor come here for the world’s kindest care, for no one here is turned away for lack of funds.
Fortis Healthcare Limited (FHL) is an enterprise from the promoters of Ranbaxy, India’s largest pharmaceutical company and a global giant. With the first flagship venture of the Group, Fortis Hospital at Mohali in 2001, today the Fortis network has grown to ten hospitals with a bed capacity of around 1600 beds establishing itself as one of India’s leading advanced tertiary care Healthcare Group.

This is one of the important point that cannot be ignored is that you get the best treatment in most reasonable charges. Moreover India is rich in natural beauty and it’s wide heritage. Here you can have your treatment done as well as relax and have complete mental peace. Medical Tourism in India is being offered by Indiaheals.com and India4health.com, they arranges for travel, medical treatment, hospitalization, stay in India. Various hospitals and health care providers have recognized our reliability in this area across India. Ten years ago, medical tourism was hardly large enough to be noticed but nowadays Medical Tourism is fast becoming a worldwide, multibillion-dollar industry, whereby people from world over visit India for their medical and relaxation needs.

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While normal aortic valves have three tissue leaflets to regulate the flow of blood in the heart, a bicuspid valve has only two leaflets to perform that function. It is estimated that 1-2% of all children are born with bicuspid aortic valves, according to the Bicuspid Aortic Foundation.

Over time, a bicuspid aortic valve can compromise basic heart function that can lead to an enlarged heart muscle or even heart failure. While symptoms of fatigue, shortness of breath and dizziness are common for patients suffering from bicuspid aortic valve disorders, other patients can be asymptomatic. If the bicuspid valve triggers severe aortic stenosis and aortic regurgitation for the patient, surgical treatments are deployed to repair or replace the bicuspid valve.

It should be noted, however, that bicuspid aortic valves are not the only form of congenital disorders impacting the aortic valve.

“Over the past few years, I have been actively monitoring aortic valve defects for patients,” notes Adam Pick, a double heart valve surgery patient and author of The Patient’s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. “While bicuspid aortic valves are most commonly diagnosed,” notes Pick, “I have come across patients with a unicuspid aortic valve and a quad-cuspid aortic valve.”

Mr. Pick had his bicuspid aortic valve replaced in 2005. “I lived for 33 years with a bicuspid aortic valve,” Pick stated, “I’m proof that patients can go on to live a wonderful life after open heart surgery to correct a bicuspid aortic valve.”

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The heart is one of the strongest muscles and arguable it is the most important organ in the human body. It is responsible for getting nutrients and oxygen throughout the body by way of the circulatory system. It is divided into two halves, called the atrium and the ventricle chambers. Between these two chambers are a set of valves that lets the blood flows in only one direction. Sometimes these valves become damaged and the person could suffer from some sort of heart valve disease. If left unchecked, this disease can lead to heart failure and even death.


The signs and symptoms of heart valve disease are very hard to determine since many of them are so mild and can be attributed to a number of different conditions including asthma, heartburn, heart attack, or sometimes even pregnancy. The always have a conversation with your medical professional concerning your thoughts and physical symptoms if you believe that you may have any type of heart related disease. Heart valve disease is a serious condition, and should never be self-diagnosed.


There are a few common symptoms of heart valve disease that you should watch out for. If you experience dizzy spells or faintness brought on by physical activity, shortness of breath, or chest pain while doing physical activity, or a blue color under your finger nails, or if your lips have a bluish tinge to them. These are all symptoms that you should to bring up to your doctors attention as soon as possible.


Often heart valve disease is caused by a malformation of the valves, diseases, bacterial infection, or a general weakness of the valves that separate the two chambers of the heart. These deformities can include narrowed valves, and leaking valves.


Narrowed valves that can lead to valve heart disease can be caused by a number of things. One cause of this condition is congenital abnormality, a condition at birth that if it is sever enough has given you problems your entire life. Another cause, one that can be prevented through diet exercise and perhaps medications is degeneration of the valve through atherosclerosis, or hardening of the blood vessels that sometimes occurs in old age. The heart valve can also be caused by damage from rheumatic fever or extensive calcification. Heart valve disease doesn’t always cause a life and death situation, although it can lead to major complications with the heart.


Common Vitamins and over the counter products can help with Heart Valve Disease such as Copper, EPA, Garlic, Ginkgo, Iron, and Lycopene.


There is strong evidence that trace mineral Copper is vital to the tensile strength of the coronary blood vessels.


Studies of the Greenland Eskimos lack of heart attacks have show that Eico-Sapentaenoic Acid (EPA) lowers blood cholesterol considerably, even more than polyunsaturated fat does. It also triggers a major drop in triglycerides. Salmon Oil is one of the best known sources of natural EPA.


Garlic can counteract the usual result of high fats in the diet and to help reduce high blood pressure.


Ginkgo Plus supplies a comprehensive range of important nutrients needed for the proper functioning of the vascular system and for improving blood circulation to the brain.


Iron is an essential component of hemoglobin, the oxygen carrying substance in red blood cells. Iron is vital for the production of blood. It enhances the immune system. Iron also aids in growth and repair of both bone and tissue by helping the body produce collagen.


Lycopene is very powerful in quenching free radicals as is L-gultathione. Ultra Antioxidant allows cells to perform more efficiently with less oxygen, enabling sufficient oxygen to be utilized for the

cells and organs that specifically need it.


If you are at risk from Heart Valve Disease then find a good health care professional prior to starting any type of home treatment.


Always consult your doctor before using this information.


This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.

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does anyone know how bad it is if you have all your heart valves leaking?we just found out that my 9 year old daughter has all her valves leaking.the family dr would not go into it with us, and we dont see the heart dr for another week.

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Medical industry in India has reached at acme in providing medical healthcare facilities to the international patients at very affordable cost. Now day’s hospitals for cardiac surgery in India are using modern medical treatment facilities for heart valve replacement surgery at the best hospitals in India at Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Hyderabad. Hospitals in India are gaining confidence of the international patients in providing better medical facilities at very low cost. The cardiac surgeons in India have a strong record of excellence in heart valve replacement surgery and heart valve repair surgery. Each year, heart surgeons repair or replace more than 1,400 heart valves, making Indian Clinics one of the largest and most experienced medical centers in the world for this surgery.



Heart valve repair and replacement can relieve symptoms and prolong life. The success rate for heart valve surgery is high and increasing. It is a technically demanding operation that requires the surgeon and the surgical team to have a high level of skill. Mayo Clinic has state-of-the-art facilities and a strong commitment to research and education which attracts the leaders in cardiac surgery.




Surgery for Heart Valve Repair or Replacement

Stenosis (valve narrowing) may be corrected by cutting, separating or reconstructing the valve leaflets, or other valve components, to widen the valve opening. Most patients with stenosed valves require valve replacement.



Regurgitation (valve leakage) may be corrected by replacing or shortening the supporting valve structures to allow the valve to close tightly, or by inserting a prosthetic ring to reshape a deformed valve. Valve flaps (leaflets) may also be modified to stop blood from flowing backwards.


Annuloplasty

Annuloplasty is one type of heart valve surgery.



Annuloplasty describes surgical techniques performed on the valve’s annulus, the ring of tissue that supports the valve leaflets. Purse-string sutures are sewn around the ring to make the opening smaller which helps the leaflets meet again when the valve closes. Sometimes when repairing the annulus, it is necessary to implant an annuloplasty ring where the leaflets meet the fibrous annulus to downsize an abnormally enlarged valve opening so the leaflets can come together properly.


Repair of structural support

Repair of structural support replaces or shortens the cords that support the valves (chordae tendineae and papillary muscles). When the cords and muscles are the right length, the valve leaflet edges meet and eliminate the leak.


Valve repair (Valvuloplasty)



Valvuloplasty is one type of heart valve surgery.



Valve repair may be done when a valve leaflet is floppy and prolapses. The procedure involves surgically separating, cutting out a section, or pleating a valve leaflet.


Valve replacement

Valve replacement involves removal of the defective valve and replacing it with an artificial (prosthetic) valve by sewing it to the annulus of the natural valve. Approximately 95 percent of all valve replacements are performed for mitral or aortic valves.



Indian medical tourism offers you a complete package of surgical treatment in India for specialized healthcare sectors. There are ample of heart valve replacement surgery hospitals in India at Delhi, Chennai and Hyderabad which provide international medical healthcare facilities to abroad patients. The package shall include: Pre-Operative stay in Specialized Guest Houses, surgical package, which includes domiciliary hospitalization and stay in India, in patient care, post operative medical consultancy with complete healthcare advice. In cases of emergencies / critically ill patients we have state of the art Ambulances well equipped with life saving equipments and paramedical forces. In order to facilitate you Indian medical tourism helps in visa processing, Airport pick and drop and your local travel, they will guide you as per your treatment plan. For more details on heart valve replacement surgery in India visit http://www.forerunnershealthcare.com and enquiry@forerunnershealthcare.com

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The majority of those who suffer from heart valve disease are born with it. It is mostly a congenital condition for people born with a narrow heart valve, leaky valves, valve flaps that are the wrong size or are to stiff. Many people are diagnosed with valvular heart disease when they are born. During their many baby well checks their pediatrician hears the tell-tell murmur that denotes a problem with the heart. For others they may not become aware of their condition until later during their life. There are also people who may never know they have this disease until it is to late when the only symptom is a sudden fatal heart attack.

While there are many people who are born with heart valve disease there are those who get this form of cardiovascular disease from some other disease or condition such as infective endocarditis, rheumatic heart disease, or even a heart attack. Children who are more susceptible to strep throat run a higher risk of rheumatic fever which can cause rheumatic heart disease and damage to the heart valves as they become adults.

Bacterial infections and endocarditis of the heart can also cause valve damage. These infections can be a result of medical procedures such as a surgery or dental work where bacteria are able to enter the body. The hearts valve leaflets are scarred by such an infection which can lead to heart valve regurgitation, which is a backflow of blood back through the valve.

Heart valve disease can be identified and diagnosed with the following tests:

1. Echocardiogram – This test is used routinely to diagnose valvular disease. Thickened valve leaflets, vegetations or growths on valve leaflets, myocardial function, and chamber size can be determined, and pressure gradients across valves and pulmonary artery pressures can be estimated. Either transthoracic or transesophageal echocardiography may be used.

2. Chest X-ray – This can identify cardiac hypertrophy, chamber and great vessel enlargement, and dilation of the pulmonary vasculature. Calcification of the valve leaflets and annular openings may also be visible.

3. Electrocardiography – Can demonstrate atrial and ventricular hypertrophy, conduction defects, and dysrhythmias associated with valvular disease.

4. Cardiac catheterization – Is used to assess contractility and to determine the pressure gradients across the heart valves, in the heart chambers, and in the pulmonary system.

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The heart is a wonderful creation, designed to pump blood through the body 24/7/365 and Leap Year 366. Awake or asleep, humans depend on the heart to do its work. No one ever consciously directs that work. The heart operates without conscious decision or effort.


Heart valve disease can hinder that operation, however. Heart valves are strong, thin flaps of tissue that open and close to allow blood to flow properly through the heart. As the heart pumps, the valves stretch back and forth, keeping blood flowing in the right direction. They work hard, moving with each beat of the heart.

Heart Valve Disease


Heart valve disease may cause the valves not to open enough to let blood flow freely. Or the opposite may happen – valves may not close as completely as they should, and blood leaks between chambers when it should not. Heart valve disease causes the heart to work harder. This may lead to heart failure.


Heart valve disease can be present at birth, and silently can cause problems as the child grows. Heart valve disease might also be caused later in life by infections, heart attacks, heart damage, or other heart disease.


Sometimes, heart valve disease is minor. No treatment is necessary for minor problems. Other times, heart valve disease might require prescription drugs or a medical procedure. Surgery may be recommended to repair or replace the problem valve.

Heart Valve Surgery


Heart valve surgery may be used in one of two ways. The surgeon may repair a valve, or take it out entirely and replace it with an artificial valve.


Mitral valves can usually be repaired and left where they are. Aortic valves usually must be replaced with artificial valves.


Once the cardiologist and patient have reached a decision to proceed with surgery, they will need to consider options as to which kind of artificial valve will be used: biological or mechanical.


1. Biological valves: Biological heart valves are those made from humans or animals. These valves are often made from pig aortic valves. Some have been made from cow tissues.


2. Mechanical valves: Mechanical heart valves are made of metal, plastic, and pyrolytic carbon. They are very strong, and will usually last a lifetime.

Heart Valve Surgery Complications


Heart valve surgery complications can occur. Usually these problems are linked to the type of artificial valve used. Although there is little difference among valve types as far as the patient is concerned, surgeons often prefer one over another because of the way it is sewn into place.


Heart valve surgery complications that you will want to discuss with your cardiologist include, but may not be limited to the following.


1. Blood clots tend to form on all mechanical valves. The risk of these blood clots causing a stroke in the patient is small, but definite. To counteract the blood clot risk, patients are required to take blood thinners for the rest of their lives. Blood thinners are usually safe, but they can increase bleeding within the body. If that bleeding occurs in the brain, it can lead to death.


2. Blood clots sometimes form on biological valves as well, but the risk is greatly reduced. Patients take anticoagulants for only 6 weeks to 3 months. The main problem with these artificial valves is that they eventually wear out and must be replaced. Their expected life is 10 to 15 years, so a young person might have to have several replacements.


3. Anesthesia and the rerouting of your blood through a bypass machine may cause heart valve surgery complications such as arrhythmia, pneumonia, kidney failure, stroke, and death.


4. Blood clots are another complication that may result from heart valve surgery. These usually show up a few days after surgery, causing pain and swelling in the leg or legs affected. If a blood clot is dislodged from the leg, it can travel to the lungs and cause shortness of breath, chest pain, or even death.


5. Other heart valve surgery complications are: bleeding during or after surgery that may require a blood transfusion; infection in the chest incision; and deep infections in the heart or the breastbone.


6. The new valve may malfunction shortly after surgery or much later, requiring emergency surgery. This is rare, but can result in death.


7. Arrhythmia (abnormal heartbeats) may occur after heart valve surgery. These are controlled by medication. They usually stop after a few days or weeks, but some become permanent.

CAUTION: The author is not a medical professional, and offers the information in this article for educational purposes only. Please discuss it with your physician before relying on it in any way.

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