Last Updated on November 27, 2025 by Bilal Hasdemir

Aortic stenosis, also known as aortic valve stenosis, is a serious heart condition. The aortic valve becomes narrowed. This blocks normal blood flow from the left ventricle into the aorta and to the body.

This condition is a big worry, mainly for older adults. It affects over 20 percent of them. As we get older, the risk of getting aortic stenosis goes up. It’s a common heart problem in the elderly.

At Liv Hospital, we know how serious aortic stenosis is for heart health. We’re dedicated to giving top-notch, patient-focused cardiac care.

Key Takeaways

• Aortic stenosis is a serious heart condition characterized by the narrowing of the aortic valve.
• It affects over 20 percent of older adults, making it a significant concern in the elderly.
• The condition obstructs normal blood flow from the left ventricle into the aorta.
• Early diagnosis and treatment are key to avoiding serious problems.
• Liv Hospital offers full cardiac care for patients with aortic stenosis.

Understanding Aorta Stenosis: Definition and Pathophysiology

The aortic valve is key for blood flow from the heart to the aorta. “The aortic valve is a critical structure that allows blood to flow forward while preventing backward flow,” say heart experts. We’ll see how it works and how stenosis affects it.

The Aortic Valve’s Normal Function

The aortic valve is vital for the heart’s function. It makes sure blood flows well from the left ventricle to the aorta. It opens to let blood out and closes to stop it from coming back.

Research shows the aortic valve’s role in blood flow is essential. When it works right, the heart pumps blood well. This keeps the body’s tissues oxygenated and nourished.

How Stenosis Disrupts Blood Flow

Aortic stenosis narrows the valve opening, blocking blood flow. This makes the heart work harder, leading to fatigue and other problems.

The disruption caused by aortic stenosis can lead to significant health issues if left untreated. Symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath show the need for quick medical help.

“Aortic stenosis is a serious condition that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent long-term damage to the heart.”

Knowing how aortic stenosis works is key to treating it. By understanding its effects on blood flow, doctors can improve patient care.

Types of Aortic Valve Stenosis

It’s important for doctors to know about the different types of aortic stenosis. Each type has its own features and needs for treatment.

Congenital Aortic Stenosis

Congenital aortic stenosis is a condition you’re born with. It often comes with other heart problems, like a bicuspid aortic valve. This happens when the valve doesn’t form right, causing stenosis.

Heart defects can really affect how well the valve works. This means kids and adults with this condition might need treatment for their whole lives.

Acquired Aortic Stenosis

Acquired aortic stenosis happens later in life. It’s often caused by age-related calcification, where calcium builds up on the valve. Other causes include rheumatic fever and wear and tear on the valve.

These factors can make the valve opening get smaller over time. This can hurt how well the heart works.

Classification by Severity: Mild to Severe

Aortic stenosis is divided into levels of severity. Doctors use echocardiography to figure out how severe it is. They look at things like the valve area and pressure differences.

This helps doctors decide the best treatment. For severe cases, aortic valve replacement is often the best choice.

Doctors tailor treatment plans based on how severe the stenosis is. Mild cases might just need regular check-ups. But severe cases might need more serious treatments.

• Mild aortic stenosis may not need immediate action but needs regular checks.
• Moderate aortic stenosis needs closer watching and might need treatment based on symptoms.
• Severe aortic stenosis often needs aortic valve replacement to help symptoms and improve life expectancy.

Common Causes of Aortic Stenosis

Knowing what causes aortic stenosis is key to treating it well. Aortic stenosis happens when the aortic valve gets narrower. This can be due to many different reasons.

Age-Related Calcification

Calcification with age is a big reason for aortic stenosis, mainly in older people. As we get older, the aortic valve can start to calcify. Studies have shown that this is a big problem for the elderly.

Bicuspid Aortic Valve

A bicuspid aortic valve is when the valve has only two parts instead of three. This can cause stenosis because the valve doesn’t work right. People born with this are more likely to get stenosis early on.

Rheumatic Fever

Rheumatic fever can damage the aortic valve, causing stenosis. It’s a problem because of streptococcal infections. Even though it’s rare in some places, it’s a big issue in others.

Other Contributing Factors

Other things can also cause aortic stenosis. These include genetics, lifestyle, and health conditions. Knowing these can help find people at risk and prevent it.

Understanding aortic stenosis causes helps doctors plan better treatments. This includes aortic stenosis surgery when needed. It helps improve patient care.

Risk Factors for Developing Aortic Stenosis

Aortic stenosis risk factors include age, genetics, and lifestyle. Knowing these factors helps us spot who’s at risk early. This can help prevent or slow the disease.

Age and Gender Considerations

Age is a big risk factor for aortic stenosis. As we get older, the chance of getting calcific aortic stenosis goes up. Research shows that aortic stenosis becomes more common after 65. Men are more likely to get it than women, but we’ll look at how age and gender interact with other risks.

Genetic Predisposition

Genetics play a big role in aortic stenosis. People with a bicuspid aortic valve, often inherited, are at higher risk. Genetics can affect how the aortic valve calcifies, leading to stenosis. Family history is key in assessing risk.

“Genetic factors contribute significantly to the risk of developing aortic stenosis, particular in cases of bicuspid aortic valve.”

– Aortic Stenosis Research

Lifestyle and Health Conditions

Some lifestyles and health conditions raise aortic stenosis risk. For example, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes increase heart disease risk. Smoking and not being active also add to the risk. Managing these conditions is vital to lower heart disease risk.

• Hypertension
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes mellitus
• Smoking
• Lack of physical activity

By knowing these risk factors, we can find people at risk for aortic stenosis early. This helps us act fast to prevent or slow the disease.

Recognizing Aortic Stenosis Symptoms

Knowing the signs of aortic stenosis can help avoid serious problems. Symptoms can start early or become severe and urgent. It’s important to recognize them.

Early Warning Signs

In the beginning, aortic stenosis might not show symptoms. But as it gets worse, you might notice:

• Chest pain (angina) or discomfort, which may worsen with activity
• Shortness of breath (dyspnea) or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue or feeling weak

These signs happen because the heart has to work harder to push blood through the narrowed valve.

Advanced Symptoms

When aortic stenosis gets worse, symptoms can get more serious. You might see:

• Fainting or lightheadedness (syncope)
• Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeats
• Swollen ankles, feet, or abdomen due to fluid buildup

These signs mean the disease is getting worse and need quick doctor visits.

When to Seek Medical Attention

If you or someone you know has symptoms of aortic stenosis, get medical help. Seek immediate care if you have:

1. Severe chest pain or discomfort
2. Severe shortness of breath
3. Fainting or near-fainting spells

Getting a diagnosis and treatment early can greatly improve your health.

How Aortic Stenosis Affects Heart Function

Aortic stenosis makes it hard for the heart to pump blood well. It narrows the aortic valve opening. This blocks blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta.

Left Ventricular Function Impact

Aortic stenosis hurts the left ventricle’s ability to pump blood. The left ventricle has to work harder because of the narrowed valve. This leads to left ventricular hypertrophy, where the muscle gets thicker.

This thickening can make the left ventricle less efficient over time. Studies show that aortic stenosis can cause this thickening. It can even lead to heart failure if not treated.

Compensatory Mechanisms

The heart tries to fight back against aortic stenosis in several ways. These include:

• Increasing left ventricular pressure to get past the blockage
• Making the left ventricular wall thicker
• Changing the heart’s electrical signals

These efforts help keep the heart pumping in the short term. But they can’t keep up forever, leading to heart failure.

Progression to Heart Failure

Severe aortic stenosis can lead to heart failure if not treated. The left ventricle gets strained and can start to fail. This causes symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling.

It’s important to understand how aortic stenosis affects the heart. Early treatment, like aortic valve replacement, can greatly improve a patient’s outcome.

Diagnosing Aortic Valve Stenosis

To diagnose aortic valve stenosis, we use several tests. These help us understand how severe the condition is and what treatment is best. We look at the heart’s function and the aortic valve’s condition with different tools.

Echocardiography is a key test for aortic stenosis. It lets us see the aortic valve and check how it works. Sometimes, we also do cardiac catheterization. This test measures the pressure across the aortic valve and checks the coronary arteries.

We might also use cardiac MRI or CT scans. These imaging studies help us see more about the aortic valve and the area around it. Getting an accurate diagnosis is important. It helps us plan the best treatment, which could be surgery or TAVR.

By using these tests together, we can accurately find out if someone has aortic valve disease. Then, we can choose the best treatment for each patient.

FAQ

References

Wikipedia: Aortic Stenosis

NCBI Bookshelf (National Library of Medicine): Aortic Stenosis (Specific NCBI ID)