Understanding your heart and aortic stenosis
How your heart works
Your heart is a muscular organ located in the centre of your chest.1 It is about the size of your fist.1 The heart is a sophisticated pump, providing blood flow to all of the cells, tissues and organs in your body.1
Chambers and valves of the heart
Your heart contains four chambers.1 It pumps blood by contracting, to squeeze blood out of the chambers, and relaxing, allowing blood to enter the chambers.1
1. Right atrium
Receives blood from the body that’s had its oxygen used up. Pumps with a small force to send blood to the right ventricle
2. Tricuspid valve
Controls the flow of blood from the right atrium into the right ventricle, to make sure the flow is always in one direction
3. Right ventricle
Receives blood from the left atrium and pumps it through the pulmonary valve, towards the lungs
4. Pulmonary valve
Controls the flow of blood from the right ventricle into the vein that will carry it to the lungs, making sure the blood always flows in one direction
5. Left atrium
Receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs and pumps with a small amount of force to send it into the left ventricle
6. Mitral valve
Controls the flow of blood from the left atrium into the left ventricle, to make sure the flow is always in one direction
7. Left ventricle
Receives oxygen-rich blood from the left atrium and pumps in towards the arteries to supply blood to all of the body's organs
8. Aortic valve
Controls the flow of blood from the left ventricle into the arteries that supply oxygen-rich blood to the body’s organs
- Adapted from BHF – How your heart works.1
About AS
- Aortic stenosis is a common problem with the aortic valve, which can be very serious if left untreated2
- Stenosis is caused by the buildup of calcium on the aortic valve, also known as “calcification”, causing it to stiffen and narrow, hindering blood flow3,4
- Calcification mainly comes with age as calcium is deposited on heart valve leaflets over the course of a lifetime3
Normal aortic valve
Open
Open
Aortic valve stenosis
Open
Open
- 1 Tricuspid valve
- 2 Pulmonary valve
- 3 Mitral valve
- 4 Aortic valve
- Adapted from BHF – How your heart works.1
AS symptoms
You may not experience any symptoms at first, but as aortic stenosis progresses, your heart has to work harder to compensate for it. You may then experience:5,6
Chest pain
(also called angina)
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Feeling faint or fainting
Feeling tired, especially after being active
Diagnosis, tests and the Heart Team
This section will guide you through the types of tests you will experience and the specialities of doctors you will meet.
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References
- British Heart Foundation. How your heart works. Available at: https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/how-a-healthy-heart-works. Accessed July 2022.
- American Heart Association. Aortic Stenosis Overview. Available at: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-valve-problems-and-disease/heart-valve-problems-and-causes/problem-aortic-valve-stenosis. Accessed July 2022.
- Bhatia N, Basra SS, Skolnick A, et al. J Geriatr Cardiol. 2016;13(12):941–944.
- Grimard MH, Safford RE, Burns EL. Am Fam Physician. 2016;93(5):371–378.
- NHS. Why it’s done. Aortic valve replacement. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/aortic-valve-replacement/whyitsdone/. Accessed July 2022.
- Mayo Clinic. Aortic valve stenosis. Symptoms & causes. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/aortic-stenosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353139. Accessed July 2022.