aortic stenosis

[hamble99b]

I'm waiting for a cat/ct scan with a view to an op.

I'm upset & frightened.

any info welcomed.

sandra.

[alicn]

Hi Sandra, sorry to hear that you've been given a diagnosis without any useful information, please try not to worry, aortic stenosis is common and the post operative results are really good, it's a condition which can develop as we get older due to stiffening and calcium build up on the aortic valve which restricts it's ability to open and /or close effectively causing a range of symptoms with the main one being shortness of breath particularly on exertion. It also it common in about 10 percent of the population without any problems at all until they reach mid 40's, these patients have only 2 cusps of what should be 3 in the normal aortic valve and this can cause the valve to not close properly causing blood ejected from the main pumping vessel of the heart to flow back again across the leaky valve into the ventricle, also causing shortness of breath and maybe dizziness. The best advice I can give you is to log on or contact British Heart Foundation bhf.org who have an excellent range of info and im sure this will help and reassure you.

I work in a cardiac centre and we advise our patients to look at bhf info, good luck and try not to worry xx

[hamble99b in reply to alicn]

thankyou so much alicn, I'll go on there now.

sandra.