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He explained that the main reasons for heart valve disease is usually due to the natural aging process of “wearing out”, where calcium is deposited in the leaflet tissue, or the damage caused due to rheumatic fever. Worldwide, nearly 70 percent of all heart valve replacements occurs due to natural ageing process.
In contrast, the average age of heart valve replacement patients in emerging markets is lower, due to the increased prevalence of rheumatic disease in India, he added.
Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease and very commonly seen in India. It can affect many of the body’s connective tissues - especially those of the heart, joints, brain or skin. Rheumatic fever begins with a strep throat from streptococcal infection. The heart valve malfunctioning can be detected from the occurrence of the following symptoms: chest pain or tightening of the chest, shortness of breath, inability to sleep, general fatigue, inability to perform day to day activities and swollen ankles or feet or an abnormally large abdomen.
He informed that a patient requiring a heart valve replacement has two options: a mechanical valve or natural valve made of animal or human tissue. Mechanical valves are manufactured from a biocompatible metal, plastic or ceramic-like material. The valve itself consists of a ring, with one or two moveable discs inside that open and close to control the flow of blood.
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