What Symptoms Could I Have?
If you have heart valve disease you may experience: problems breathing lying down; wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath when you exert yourself; waking up at night coughing or short of breath; weakness of tiredness; dizzy spells, fainting spells; swollen ankles or feet; a fast pounding heartbeat or fluttering feeling in the chest (palpitations); chest pain or pressure (angina) when the aortic valve becomes stenotic.
Precautions You Should Take!
See your primary care doctor for regular medical check-ups. People with heart valve disease have a greater potential for getting a blood infection. These blood infections can be prevented by getting an antibiotic before medical procedures. Plan a dental check-up every 6 months. Inform the dentist that you have a diseased valve so that he can prescribe an antibiotic for you before any cleaning or procedure.
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