Symptoms Of A Bicuspid Aortic Valve
December 18th, 2007I just received an interesting email asking about the symptoms and problems associated with a bicuspid aortic valve. Specifically, the question was, “What are the symptoms of a bicuspid aortic valve?”
This question is very near-and-dear to my heart (pun intended). The reason?
I was a born with a bicuspid aortic valve. For most of my life, you could hear it leaking along in my chest as a heart murmur. I was originally diagnosed with the congenital condition at the age of five.
Bicuspid Aortic Valve (With Only Two Valve Leaflets)
Then, twenty eight years later, I learned that my two-leaflet, bicuspid aortic valve was straining my heart. Dr. Chaikin told me my heart was enlarged (dilated) after my yearly echocardiogram. I needed a heart valve replacement. Days later, the Ross Procedure was being performed on me by Dr. Vaughn Starnes.
Interestingly enough, I experienced no major symptoms of a bicuspid aortic valve. However, it should be noted that there can be several symptoms (see below) that occur for patients that suffer from heart valve defects including bicuspid aortic valve, mitral valve prolapse, regurgitation, etc.
As for the symptoms of a bicuspid valve, many problems can manifest for the patient. Here is a list of some symptoms of a bicuspid aortic valve:
- Shortness of breath, especially with exertion or when you lie down
- Fatigue, especially during times of increased activity
- Cough, especially at night or when lying down
- Heart palpitations — sensations of a rapid, fluttering heartbeat
- Swollen feet or ankles
- Heart murmur
- Chest pain (angina) or tightness
- Feeling faint or fainting with exertion
- Dizziness
However, you should note that this list is not exhaustive. And, you should also know that many patients, like me, are asymptomatic. Asymptomatic patients may have a severe heart valve disorders but have no apparent symptoms. As you can imagine, that is not a good situation.
I hope this helps answer the question of, “What are the symptoms of a bicuspid aortic valve?”
Keep on tickin,
 |
| About The Author: Adam Pick is a double, heart valve surgery patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. This unique book integrates clinical research with the personal experiences of 135 former patients to help future patients and their caregivers better understand the problems, the opportunities and the realities of heart valve surgery. To learn more about Adam and his heart valve surgery book, click here. |
 |
