Structural condition
Structural Heart Disease
Conditions involving the valves, chambers, and walls of the heart.
Overview
Structural heart disease refers to conditions that involve the physical structures of the heart, such as the valves, the chambers, or the walls between them. Some conditions are present from birth and others develop over time. Many are first noticed when a clinician hears a murmur or when imaging is ordered for another reason.
What is happening inside the body
The heart is a pump with four chambers and four valves that open and close in sequence so blood moves in one direction. If a valve becomes narrowed, it takes more work to push blood through it. If a valve does not close completely, some blood can leak backward. Either pattern can make the heart work harder over time.
Common symptoms
- Shortness of breath with activity or when lying flat
- Feeling unusually tired or limited during ordinary activity
- Chest discomfort or pressure
- Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
- A fluttering or pounding sensation in the chest
- Swelling in the legs, ankles, or abdomen
- A heart murmur noted by a clinician
Risk factors
- Older age
- A heart murmur or valve condition found previously
- A condition present from birth involving the heart
- A history of rheumatic fever or a heart infection
- Prior heart attack or heart muscle disease
- Family history of valve or structural heart conditions
When to be seen
When to see a cardiovascular specialist.
- You have been told you have a heart murmur
- Shortness of breath or fatigue is new, worsening, or limiting your activity
- Fainting, near fainting, or unexplained dizziness
- Chest discomfort with activity
- You have a known valve condition and are due for follow-up imaging
If you have severe chest pain, sudden severe shortness of breath, fainting, or signs of a stroke, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Evaluation
How the condition is evaluated.
- History, exam, and listening for murmurs
- A careful exam often provides the first clue that a valve or structural issue may be present.
- Echocardiogram
- Ultrasound imaging of the heart that shows the chambers, the valves, and how blood moves through them.
- Transesophageal echocardiogram
- A higher-resolution ultrasound view used when more detail about a valve or chamber is needed.
- Cardiac MRI or CT
- Advanced imaging that can add detail about heart structure when appropriate.
- Cardiac catheterization
- An invasive study used in select situations to measure pressures and assess the coronary arteries.
Treatment
Potential treatment options.
- Monitoring over time
- Some conditions are followed with periodic imaging and exams rather than immediate intervention.
- Medical therapy
- Medications may be used to manage symptoms, blood pressure, rhythm, or fluid balance.
- Procedural and surgical referral
- When a valve or structural problem warrants intervention, care is coordinated with the appropriate specialists and hospital team.
- Ongoing cardiovascular follow-up
- Long-term follow-up helps track changes and adjust the plan as needed.
Treatment is individualized. What is appropriate for you depends on your evaluation, your symptoms, and your overall health, and it is decided together with your physician.
At our clinicView all services
Related Austin Cardiovascular Clinic services.
Structural Heart Care
Evaluation and coordinated care for valve disease and structural conditions.
Cardiac Ultrasound
In-office echocardiography and vascular ultrasound imaging.
Cardiac Catheterization
Diagnostic and therapeutic heart catheterization procedures.
Cardiac MRI & CT
Advanced non-invasive imaging for detailed cardiac assessment.
Transesophageal Echo (TEE)
High-resolution imaging for detailed valve and chamber evaluation.
Your care team
Physicians who care for this condition.
Questions & answers
Structural Heart Disease questions patients ask.
General education only. Your own answers depend on your evaluation.
It is a general term for conditions involving the physical structures of the heart, including the valves, chambers, and the walls between them. It does not describe a single diagnosis, so an evaluation is needed to identify what is present.
A murmur is a sound made by blood moving through the heart. Some murmurs are harmless and others point to a valve that is narrowed or leaking. An echocardiogram is commonly used to tell the difference.
It is an ultrasound of the heart. A technologist moves a small probe across the chest with gel, and images of the chambers and valves are recorded. It is painless and does not use radiation.
Yes. Some valve conditions progress slowly and are found during an exam or imaging performed for another reason, which is one reason periodic follow-up is recommended when a condition is known.
No. Many are monitored over time with imaging and exams. Whether an intervention is appropriate depends on the specific condition, its severity, your symptoms, and your overall health.
The interval depends on the condition and how it has behaved over time. Your cardiologist will recommend a follow-up schedule that fits your situation.
Some conditions have a family connection and others do not. Sharing your family history with your cardiologist helps guide whether additional evaluation is worth considering.
Consider an evaluation if you have been told you have a murmur, if shortness of breath or fatigue is limiting your activity, or if you have fainting, dizziness, or chest discomfort. A known valve condition should be followed regularly.
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