Aortic Stenosis Treatment in Malaysia

What is Aortic Stenosis?

Aortic valve stenosis, also called valvular heart disease, is a type of heart valve disease. The aortic valve sits between the aorta, the body's principal artery, and the heart's lower left chamber. Aortic valve stenosis causes the valve to narrow and not open completely. As a result, blood flow from the heart to the aorta and the rest of the body is decreased or stopped.

What is the Importance of Timely Treatment?

Timely treatment for aortic stenosis is crucial because it helps prevent serious complications like heart failure, stroke, or even sudden cardiac arrest. The risk of life-threatening consequences can be significantly decreased, symptoms can be improved, and quality of life can be improved with early intervention through valve replacement or repair treatments.

What are the Common Symptoms of Aortic Stenosis?

Aortic valve stenosis symptoms can include:

• Tightness or soreness in the chest when moving.
• Experiencing lightheadedness, fainting, or fainting with activity.
• Breathlessness, particularly when straining oneself.
• Fatigue, particularly when engaging in more strenuous activities.
• Fluttering, fast heartbeat.

Other symptoms of aortic valve stenosis in children include:

• Not eating enough.
• Not putting on enough weight.

Heart failure may result from aortic valve stenosis. Swollen ankles and feet, shortness of breath, and excessive fatigue are all signs of heart failure.

Causes, Risk Factors and Complications of Aortic Stenosis

Causes

There are three primary causes of aortic stenosis in adults:

• Age-related wear and tear: Calcium can accumulate on your valve over time, reducing blood flow.
• Infection-related damage: Untreated infection-related bacteria accumulate on heart valves, impairing the immune system. This is most frequently the situation in strep throat or scarlet fever.
• Other inherited or chronic conditions: Paget's disease of the bone, renal failure, and familial hypercholesterolemia are further uncommon conditions that can result in aortic valve stenosis. Additionally, autoimmune or inflammatory conditions like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis are associated with aortic stenosis.

Risk Factors

• Among the risk factors for aortic valve stenosis include older age.
• Congenital heart defects are heart disorders that appear from birth.
• Risk factors for heart disease include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
• Infections such as infective endocarditis and rheumatic fever can impact the heart.
• Chest radiation treatment.
• Long-term kidney disease.

Complications

Possible complications of aortic valve stenosis are:

• Heart failure
• Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats)
• Infections like endocarditis that impact the heart
• Stroke
• Blood clots
• Bleeding

Latest Research and Technologies in the Treatment of Aortic Stenosis in Malaysia

• Recent advances in the treatment of aortic stenosis in Malaysia have centred on the implementation of novel, minimally invasive technologies that improve patient outcomes.
• Advanced TAVI systems, like the Evolut™ FX and ACURATE Neo2, have improved the procedure's precision and success rates.
• These technologies enable more accurate valve installation, fewer problems, and faster recovery times, providing patients with safer and more effective treatment choices for aortic stenosis.

Aortic Stenosis Prevention Tips

Aortic valve stenosis may be avoided in the following ways:

• Eating a nutritious diet
• Maintaining a consistent workout routine
• Avoid smoking and using illegal medications.
• Visiting your physician as needed or for your yearly checkup
• Maintaining control of diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and kidney issues
• To avoid endocarditis, see your dentist every six months and practice good oral hygiene.
• To prevent developing rheumatic fever, consult your physician if you think you may have strep throat.