Heart Valve Disease

Treatment

Monitoring

If tests reveals a mild to moderate condition and there are no symptoms, the physician will suggest regular medical checkups to carefully monitor the valve. Actively observing the heart valve defect is important so that the right treatment can be started at the right time. Heart valves need to be repaired or replaced before irreversible damage occurs.

Medication

Currently, no medication can correct a heart valve defect. However, patients may benefit from medications to reduce the heart's workload, regulate heart rhythms, and in some cases slow or halt the progression of the heart valve disease.

Antibiotics prior to dental or surgical procedures may be advised as a preventive measure for patients at highest risk of developing severe bacterial endocarditis (those who have a prosthetic valve or who have previously had endocarditis). Read more about endocarditis prevention.