02/22/2026
Bringing back Dr. Soma's post for National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day!
“Today, in honor of National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day, I’d like to take this opportunity to shine a light on heart valve disease. The heart valves are a crucial tissue structure that opens and closes to regulate blood flow between the heart's chambers, preventing blood from flowing backward.
Heart valve disease occurs when one or more of the heart's valves become damaged or diseased, disrupting the normal blood flow. This can lead to symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, and even heart failure if untreated. Heart valve disease can be congenital (formed before birth) or acquired later on. Risk factors include age, family history/genetics, lifestyle, hypertension and many other medical conditions.
Heart valve disease can be diagnosed through different tests, most commonly with an echocardiogram and in certain cases a cardiac CT scan or an MRI. Treatment options vary depending on the type and severity of the disease, and can range from medications to surgery or minimally invasive procedures.
By understanding the signs and risks, we can help ensure early diagnosis and better management and treatment of this condition.”
– Dr. Vikas Soma, Interventional Cardiologist
