Pulmonary Valve Stenosis and Receiving Disability
The lower right chamber of your heart (your right ventricle) is what contracts and pushes blood from your heart and into your pulmonary artery. Your right ventricle does this when your heart squeezes. Your pulmonary artery is what transports blood from your heart to your lungs. Your pulmonary valve lies between your main pulmonary artery and your right ventricle. Your pulmonary valve works to stop blood from leaking back into your heart in between the beats of your heart. When there is nothing wrong with your pulmonary valve, it is composed of three thin leaflets. When there is a defect in your pulmonary valve, the condition is called pulmonary valve stenosis. Pulmonary valve stenosis is evidenced by these leaflets being fused together, less than three or too thick. This causes a narrowing of your pulmonary valve. Because of this defect, it is more difficult for your heart to pump enough blood to the rest of your body. The obstruction that results from pulmonary valve stenosis may just be minor or mild. In other instances, the obstruction may be moderate, severe or critical. Pulmonary valve stenosis is usually caused by a defect that takes place while an unborn babys heart is being formed. This kind of a birth defect is what is referred to as congenital, which means that it is something that is present at birth. No one has yet been able to determine why this defect takes place. When pulmonary valve stenosis occurs in older people, it is usually due to the placement of an artificial valve or other medical conditions. Some of these medical conditions from the heart defect are:- Carcinoid syndrome - This is a syndrome that is brought about by the release of a chemical that is known as serotonin. Growths that occur in your digestive system that are called carcinoid tumors are responsible for the release of serotonin. Carcinoid syndrome is marked by diarrhea and flushing of your skin.
- Rheumatic fever - This is a disorder that is a complication of an infection that is the result of streptococcus bacteria like strep throat or scarlet fever.
- Having carcinoid syndrome
- Having Noonans syndrome
- Having rheumatic fever.
- Loss of consciousness (fainting)
- Chest pain
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath, primarily with exertion
- A heart murmur.