Structural heart and valvular disease

Specialists at the UF Health Cardiovascular Center in Jacksonville lead the region in care for structural heart conditions with advanced diagnosis and treatment options found only at a renowned academic medical center. The Center is also a valuable option for second opinions concerning diagnosis and treatment options.

What is structural heart and valvular disease?

Structural heart disease refers to a number of conditions affecting the heart structures including the heart valves, heart chambers and muscle, among others. These conditions that may be congenital in nature or abnormalities caused by other acquired diseases or simple wear and tear that may come as a person ages.

Structural heart and valvular disease: Types

Structural heart disease can include a number of conditions:

• Heart defects, such as:
  • Atrial septal defect (ASD) or patent foramen ovale (PFO), a hole between the upper two chambers of the heart
  • Myocardial diseases, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
  • Ventricular septal defect (VSD), a hole between the lower two chambers of the heart
• Valvular heart disease, such as:
  • Aortic valve stenosis
  • Aortic regurgitation
  • Mitral valve stenosis
  • Mitral valve regurgitation
  • Tricuspid regurgitation

Many of these conditions have negative effects on a person's quality of life, and some, when left untreated, can cause heart failure, stroke and may lead to death.