Free webinar: Structural heart disease: What you should know

Medications or minimally invasive treatments can address the potentially debilitating symptoms.

A broad category, issues or irregularities within the heart linked to its physical structure, which include the heart’s valves and tissue, can be classified as a structural heart disease.

A congenital disease, meaning the condition was present at birth, structural heart disease can also develop as people age, with symptoms becoming increasingly worse. And the likelihood of a disease developing increases if someone is living with certain risk factors.

Symptoms of structural heart disease

• Chest pain
• Chest tightness
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Irregular heartbeats

Within the heart, diseased and malfunctioning valves result in improper blood flow, creating these symptoms than can significantly damper one’s quality of life.

Others, though, may not be experiencing any symptoms at all, making it vital for them to pay attention to the risk factors aiding in the development of structural heart disease.

Risk factors for structural heart disease

• High blood pressure
• Alcohol abuse
• Drug abuse
• History of cancer treatments
• History of heart valve disease

Medications and surgical procedures can address the symptoms and, in some cases, correct the underlying cause of a structural heart disease, with many cardiologists moving toward minimally invasive, catheter-based procedures.

Learn more about all the aspects of structural heart disease and get your questions answered from McLaren Macomb cardiologist Dr. Jay Mohan during a free webinar on Thurs., Feb. 25.