Understanding the many

Types of heartvalve disease

Four valves.
Three types of disease

Your heart has four valves: aortic, mitral, tricuspid, and pulmonary. All four of them can develop different kinds of heart valve disease: stenosis, regurgitation (insufficiency), and atresia.

Heart image showing the locations of the 4 heart valves: pulmonary valve, tricuspid valve, aortic valve, and mitral valve.
Valve stenosis.

Stenosis

Your valve becomes stiff and has a small opening, which limits your blood flow.

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Valve regurgitation.

Regurgitation

Your valve doesn’t close all the way, letting blood flow back into your heart.

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Atresia

Your valve isn’t formed correctly and is blocked by solid tissue.

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What’s the deadliest type of heart valve disease?