Can you slow down stenosis of the aortic valve?
Ask the doctor
I’m 80 years old and recently had an echocardiogram that showed mild aortic stenosis (my mean pressure gradient value is 13). I walk and swim regularly without any issues. Is there anything I can do to slow down the deterioration of my aortic valve? Are there any medications that can improve its function?The aortic valve sits between the left ventricle (the heart’s main pumping chamber and the aorta (the body’s main artery; see illustration). When the valve narrows, the average pressure in the left ventricle is higher compared with the aorta. You have mild stenosis, which is defined as a mean pressure gradient of 20 or lower. If a person’s mean pressure value gets to 50 or 60, however, that puts a great deal of strain on the left ventricle and limits how much blood gets through the valve to the body. When that happens, the valve needs to be replaced.
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About the Author
Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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