Heart Valve Disease Treatment in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What is heart valve disease treatment?
Heart valve disease treatment is the care of the four valves that keep blood flowing in one direction through the heart. A valve can become narrowed, called stenosis, so the heart must push harder to force blood through. A valve can also leak, called regurgitation, so some blood flows backwards and the heart pumps the same blood twice.
At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, heart valve disease is diagnosed and followed by the cardiology team. For many people, treatment means careful watching rather than an operation. The valve is measured at regular intervals, symptoms are reviewed, and the heart is protected with medicines where needed. The key decision in valve care is timing: repair or replacement is recommended when the benefit clearly outweighs the risk, and regular surveillance is how that point is recognised.
Who needs it
Heart valve disease treatment is for people found to have a heart murmur, people with symptoms that suggest a valve problem, and people already known to have a narrowed, leaking or replaced valve. A murmur is often first heard during a routine check-up, a pregnancy review or an insurance medical, and many murmurs turn out to be harmless.
Symptoms that can point to a significant valve problem include:
- Breathlessness on exertion, or when lying flat
- Chest tightness or pain during activity
- Dizziness or fainting, particularly during exercise
- Palpitations or an irregular heartbeat
- Swollen ankles and tiredness that is out of keeping with your activity
Common causes include age-related thickening of the aortic valve, a valve that was formed differently from birth, and damage from rheumatic fever in childhood. Rheumatic valve disease remains common in people who grew up in parts of South Asia, Africa and the Middle East, which is relevant for many families living in the UAE.
What happens
Your cardiologist listens to your heart, reviews your symptoms and history, and arranges an echocardiogram. This ultrasound of the heart shows which valve is affected, whether it is narrowed or leaking, how severe the problem is, and how well the heart muscle is coping. It involves no radiation. An ECG checks the heart rhythm, since valve disease can lead to atrial fibrillation.
Treatment depends on the valve, the severity and your symptoms:
| Situation | Usual approach |
|---|---|
| Mild valve disease, no symptoms | Surveillance echocardiograms at intervals your cardiologist sets |
| Moderate disease or early heart strain | Closer surveillance and medicines for blood pressure, fluid or heart rhythm |
| Severe disease with symptoms, or heart muscle starting to weaken | Discussion of repair or replacement, with referral to a cardiac surgical centre |
Medicines ease symptoms, control the heart rate and protect the heart muscle. Where an irregular rhythm develops, blood-thinning treatment may be needed, coordinated with atrial fibrillation treatment.
If repair or replacement is recommended, your cardiologist explains the options, which may include open surgery or a catheter-based procedure, and arranges referral to a centre that performs them. Follow-up after the procedure can continue at Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah.
Preparing for it
Bring any previous echocardiogram reports, especially older ones, because comparing measurements over time is the heart of valve surveillance. Bring your medicine list and any letters about a valve operation or rheumatic fever.
If you are a woman with known valve disease and are planning a pregnancy, book a review before you conceive. Pregnancy increases the workload on the heart, and some valve conditions and some blood-thinning medicines need a plan agreed in advance with both your cardiologist and obstetric team.
Tell your cardiologist about any dental work you have planned, since the mouth is a common entry point for bacteria that can infect a damaged or replaced valve.
Afterwards
After assessment, you receive a plan for surveillance scans, any medicines, and the symptoms to report between visits. Many people with mild or moderate valve disease live normally for years with regular checks.
Look after your teeth and gums, with dental check-ups at least twice a year, because good oral health lowers the risk of a valve infection called endocarditis. If you have a replaced valve or a previous endocarditis, tell your dentist before treatment.
Contact the hospital if you become more breathless, tire more easily, notice ankle swelling, or have palpitations. Seek prompt medical review if you develop a fever without a clear cause and you have a known valve problem or a replaced valve. Call emergency services straight away if you faint, have chest pain, or are breathless at rest.
Cost and insurance
Most UAE health insurance plans cover cardiology consultations, echocardiograms, ECGs and long-term medicines for valve disease, with some scans needing pre-approval. Valve repair or replacement arranged through referral requires separate approval from your insurer before the procedure. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you confirm your cover on 06 599 7777.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the risks and limits of heart valve disease treatment?
Heart valve disease treatment with medicines and surveillance cannot reverse a narrowed or leaking valve; it controls symptoms and identifies the right time for a procedure. Blood-thinning medicines, when needed, increase bleeding risk. Valve repair and replacement carry their own risks, which the operating team explains so the benefit can be weighed for your situation.
Is a heart murmur dangerous?
A heart murmur is often harmless, particularly in children, pregnant women and young adults, where it reflects normal blood flow. A murmur can also be a sign of valve disease, so a new murmur in an adult is usually checked with an echocardiogram. The echocardiogram shows whether a valve problem is present and how severe it is.
Will I need heart valve surgery?
Many people with heart valve disease never need surgery, because mild and moderate valve problems are managed with regular checks. Repair or replacement is recommended when a valve problem becomes severe and causes symptoms or begins to strain the heart muscle. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah arranges referral to a cardiac surgical centre when a procedure is advised.
How often do I need an echocardiogram for valve disease?
Echocardiogram frequency for valve disease depends on the valve affected and the severity, ranging from every few years for mild disease to more often for moderate or severe disease. Your cardiologist sets the interval and brings it forward if your symptoms change.
Why does my cardiologist ask about my teeth?
Your cardiologist asks about your teeth because bacteria from the mouth can enter the bloodstream and infect a damaged or replaced valve, a serious condition called endocarditis. Regular dental check-ups and good daily oral hygiene lower this risk. People with a replaced valve should tell their dentist before any treatment.
Can I get pregnant if I have heart valve disease?
Many women with heart valve disease have safe pregnancies with planning, although some valve conditions carry higher risk in pregnancy. A review with a cardiologist before conception allows medicines to be checked and a plan to be agreed with the obstetric team. Some blood-thinning medicines need to be changed before pregnancy.
Is heart valve treatment covered by insurance?
Most UAE insurance plans cover valve consultations, echocardiograms and medicines, although some tests need pre-approval. Valve repair or replacement requires separate approval before the procedure. Confirm your cover with Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah on 06 599 7777.
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