Structural heart disease refers to problems or defects that weaken the heart’s structure, including its walls, valves and muscles. When these parts are misshapen or damaged, blood flow can be disrupted, leading to serious issues like stroke, heart failure or sudden cardiac arrest.
At Banner Health, our nationally recognized cardiovascular team is dedicated to diagnosing and treating structural heart disease. Our team of cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and vascular surgeons use the latest treatments and minimally invasive procedures to help patients with heart valve problems.
Structural heart disease changes the structure of your heart. It can affect the:
Some of these conditions are congenital, meaning you are born with them. Others develop over time because of aging, infections like rheumatic fever or endocarditis or changes in the heart due to long-term high blood pressure . If not treated, structural heart disease can cause other health problems.
The most diagnosed forms of structural heart disease are:
Coronary artery disease happens when the arteries that carry blood to your heart become narrowed or blocked, reducing blood flow to the heart. Structural heart disease changes the shape of the heart and how it works. It is different from arrhythmias like AFib, which are problems with the heart’s electrical system.
Symptoms depend on which part of your heart is affected. Some symptoms develop slowly and may be easy to miss at first. Others notice changes during everyday activities, such as walking up stairs or carrying groceries.
Common symptoms include:
A team of interventional cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons treats structural heart disease. You might benefit from an evaluation if you:
Some cases can be diagnosed during pregnancy with a fetal echocardiogram, a test that uses sound waves to create images of the baby’s heart. In other cases, the condition may not be noticed until later in life. Your care team will perform tests to learn more about your heart and how it works.
These tests may include:
Your treatment depends on your condition, symptoms and overall health. Many structural heart problems can be fixed with less invasive procedures. Your health care provider will explain your options and help you choose what’s best for you.
Not every condition needs immediate treatment. Some structural heart problems can be safely monitored over time.
Your care team might also give you medicines to help with symptoms, protect your heart and help you feel better each day. These medicines can help with swelling, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure and shortness of breath.
A healthy lifestyle is important for managing structural heart disease and preventing it from getting worse. Your care team will advise you to:
Some people can't safely have open-heart surgery. A transcatheter procedure might be safer since it doesn’t require opening the chest.
These procedures use a small tube called a catheter. Your surgeon makes a tiny cut (incision), often in your leg, and carefully guides the catheter to your heart.
Benefits often include:
These procedures may be used for:
Some people still need open-heart surgery to fix structural heart problems. Surgery might be the best choice for more serious conditions. The surgery involves opening the chest to reach the heart.
Surgery may involve:
Structural heart disease can cause serious health problems if it's not treated or watched carefully. Some of these problems include:
At Banner Health, you are never alone. Our multidisciplinary heart team provides personalized care based on your condition, symptoms and goals.
When you trust your heart care with us, you get:
It can be scary when something is happening with your heart. Banner Health heart specialists are ready to offer the help you need. Make an appointment today.
Structural heart disease changes the heart's structure, like the valves or the chambers. Other types of heart disease, such as coronary artery disease, block blood flow to the heart.
It might be. Some conditions are mild but others can cause serious health problems. Getting diagnosed and treated early can help improve outcomes.
Yes. Many conditions can now be treated with minimally invasive procedures that use a small incision rather than open-heart surgery.
A PFO, or patent foramen ovale, is a small opening in the heart that fails to close after birth. Most people don’t know they have one. In some people, it may increase the risk of stroke.
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