*For Australians 65+
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*For Australians 65+
About your heart
The heart is a vital organ that pumps oxygen-rich blood to all parts of the body.1 A healthy heart beats around 100,000 times a day. The heart has four chambers through which blood is pumped with the help of four heart valves. The valves open when the heart pumps to allow blood to flow through.2 They close quickly between heartbeats to make sure blood does not flow backwards.2
What is Aortic Stenosis?
Aortic stenosis occurs when the heart’s aortic valve does not open properly, reducing the flow of blood as it exits the heart and is pumped to the rest of the body. It causes the heart to work harder, and can lead to tiredness, shortness of breath, fatigue and heart palpitations (heart flutters).3-5 Left untreated, aortic stenosis can result in heart failure and possibly death.3-5
In a healthy aortic valve, three thin leaflets open and close properly.
In a diseased (stenotic) valve, the leaflets become stiff and thickened, limiting the amount of blood pumped out of the body.
Treatment Options
Treatment options for aortic stenosis will depend in part on the severity of your condition. Mild aortic stenosis can be managed with regular observation and medications.4 If your aortic stenosis becomes more severe, you may need to have your aortic valve replaced.4
A minimally invasive procedure to replace the aortic valve via a catheter inserted into the leg or chest.
Open-heart surgery to remove the damaged valve and replace it with an artificial valve.
Real Patient Stories
This testimonial relates a genuine account of an individual’s response to the treatment, and does not provide any indication, guide, warranty or guarantee as to the response other persons may have to the treatment. Responses to the treatment may vary. Always consult your healthcare professional for a full list of benefits, indications, precautions, clinical results, and other important medical information that pertains to the therapy or products discussed.
As you get older, you may begin to notice changes to the way your body feels and functions. Often, these changes are a normal part of ageing, but sometimes they are a sign of an underlying health condition, like aortic stenosis. It’s important to pay attention to the messages your body is sending, and to discuss these with your doctor. We’ve developed some helpful resources to help you start a conversation with your GP about aortic stenosis.
References: 1. Better health channel. Heart explained. Available at: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/heart [Accessed December 2021]. 2. Cleveland Clinic. Heart Valves. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/17067-heart-valves [Accessed January 2022] 3. Better health channel. Aortic stenosis. Available at: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/aortic-stenosis. [Accessed December 2021]. 4. Mayo Clinic. Aortic stenosis. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/aortic-stenosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353139. [Accessed December 2021]. 5. American Heart Foundation. Aortic Stenosis Overview. Available at: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-valve-problems-and-disease/heart-valve-problems-and-causes/problem-aortic-valve-stenosis [Accessed December 2021].
