It also may allow blood to leak backward through it. Treatment depends on how well the valve functions. This makes the heart work harder by causing it to pump some of the same blood twice. When this happens, the heart, and one or more of its four chambers, get bigger. Not all valve problems cause problems for the patient.
Many people live a normal life with a small amount of valve disease.
Tests to diagnose valve problems include ultrasound testing, where sound waves are bounced off the heart valves to show how they move during the heart's beating. Another test involves injecting a dye into the bloodstream while x-rays are taken of the heart. By determining the cause of valvular heart disease, treatment can be targeted. Antibiotics may need to be given before certain procedures, such as dental work or surgery. This is done to prevent infections from starting on damaged heart valves.