Heart valve disease is when one or more of your heart valves do not work properly. The heart, as we might know, has 4 valves: the tricuspid, the pulmonary, the mitral, and the aortic valves.

The valves work by opening their flaps to allow blood to flow into the ventricles, the heart’s two lower chambers. A brief moment later, the ventricles contract and the mitral and tricuspid valves shut tightly to stop the blood from flowing backward into the atria. With these contractions, they pump blood through the valves and to the pulmonary artery, which carries blood to the lungs to get oxygen.

Heart valves can have 3 basic kinds of problems: regurgitation, stenosis, and atresia. Regurgitation, or backflow, occurs when a valve doesn’t close tightly. Blood leaks back into the chambers rather than flowing forward through the heart. Stenosis occurs when the flaps of a valve thicken, stiffen or fuse together. This prevents the heart valve from fully opening. As a result, not enough blood flows through the valve.  Atresia occurs when a heart valve lacks an opening for blood to pass through.

Currently, there are no medications that cure heart valve disease. However, lifestyle changes and medicines can relieve symptoms and problems. These types of treatments can also lower your risk of develop other life-threatening conditions.