Our heart has four valves, basically tissue flaps that ensure the blood keeps flowing in the correct direction.  When these valves start to leak, you may experience symptoms, such as fatigue, shortness of breath and swollen feet.

“Although many heart-related problems can be addressed with lifestyle changes or medication, leaking heart valve treatment may eventually lead to a surgeon,” says McLeod Cardiothoracic Surgeon Scot C. Schultz, MD.

A surgeon usually becomes involved after you have been diagnosed by a cardiologist. The cardiologist is a heart specialist, who will conduct an echocardiogram and/or a heart catheterization. The results may show that the valve is either leaking or that it’s become narrowed, what we call stenosis. Valve conditions can be congenital or acquired.

There are four valves in a patient’s heart – aortic, mitral, tricuspid and pulmonary. Surgical solutions for heart valve problem may involve repair or replacement of the leaking valve.

“We often repair or replace the aortic valve and the mitral valve on the left side of the heart,” says Dr. Schultz. “We occasionally have to repair or replace the tricuspid valve on the right side of the heart.”

Occasionally, a valve is destroyed, for example, by infection. In this case, we would have to replace the valve with either a tissue or mechanical heart valve.

To determine if you have a valve or other heart problem, find a cardiologist near you.