CHSS H8 Heart Valves - Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland

U N D E R S T A N D I N G H E A R T V A L V E P R O B L E M S
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES Of
HEART VALVE PROBLEMS?
Possible causes include:
• Coronary artery disease: this can commonly
contribute to a leaky mitral valve.
• High blood pressure: this can commonly
contribute to a leaky aortic valve.
• Getting older: age causes the aortic valve to
harden and narrow.
• Wear and tear can cause valves to leak.
• Infection can lead to damage causing aortic
or mitral leaking. Rheumatic fever during
childhood (or teenage years) used to be the
main cause of heart valve damage. However,
rheumatic fever is now rare in the UK.
• Congenital heart problems: e.g. being born
with an abnormal aortic valve can cause
aortic regurgitation. Congenital valve
problems often do not cause any problems
until adulthood, when premature wear and
tear may occur.
• Cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart
muscle).
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