valvular heart disease
Definition
Noun: A type of heart disease where one or more of the heart's valves are damaged or diseased, disrupting the normal flow of blood through the heart. This primarily involves two key dysfunctions: stenosis (narrowing of a valve, obstructing blood flow) and regurgitation (a valve does not close properly, allowing blood to leak backward).
Usage
This is a medical term used to describe a specific category of cardiac conditions. It is used by healthcare professionals and in patient education. * Diagnosis: The cardiologist diagnosed him with valvular heart disease. * Cause/Effect: Valvular heart disease can lead to heart failure if left untreated. * General Reference: Echocardiography is the primary test for evaluating valvular heart disease.
Advanced Usage
- The term often serves as an umbrella category, with specific conditions named for the affected valve and the type of dysfunction (e.g., , ).
- It can be modified to indicate severity (e.g., ) or etiology (e.g., ).
Variants and Related Words
- Valvulopathy: A less common synonym for valvular heart disease.
- Valvular stenosis: The narrowing component of the disease.
- Valvular regurgitation: The leaking component of the disease.
- Valvulitis: Inflammation of a heart valve, which can be a cause of valvular heart disease.
Synonyms
- Cardiac valvular disease
- Heart valve disease
Antonyms
- Structurally normal heart valves
Related Phrases
- Valve replacement/repair: The primary surgical treatments for advanced valvular heart disease.
- Valve prolapse: A specific condition (like mitral valve prolapse) that can lead to valvular regurgitation.
Noun
-
heart disease caused by stenosis of the cardiac valves and obstructed blood flow or caused by degeneration and blood regurgitation
