Structural Heart

Your Heart's Roadmap

Your heart has four valves with tissue flaps that open and close with every heartbeat. These flaps act as a roadmap for the heart, guiding blood flow in the right direction through the four chambers of your heart and throughout your body. If a problem occurs with one of your heart valves, our team at the DMC is here to help you.

Although some people have heart valve defects they are born with or disease that has developed over time, they may not have symptoms or even any problems. In other cases, the heart valve problem may worsen and cause symptoms to develop. When left untreated, advanced heart valve disease can cause heart failure, stroke, blood clots, or even death.

Navigating Your Care

The Structural Heart/Valve Clinic at the DMC is designed to make your visit more efficient, saving you time away from work or home by making sure you can be seen by our entire team in just one day.

The Structural Heart Program at the DMC encompasses interventional technology as well as the latest in structural heart innovations. The variety of minimally-invasive treatment options gives patients a wide range of personalized choices with the ability to make an educated decision based on their specific diagnosis.

A patient navigator will make all the necessary appointments and schedule you with one of our cardiologists and a cardiovascular surgeon, who are skilled in some of the most innovative valve procedures, and work together to develop your personalized care plan.

What You Can Expect

A visit to the Valve Clinic might include reviewing any previous tests or imaging of your heart, or some new testing may be performed. There are various options for treating valve disease, and our team will discuss those with you. Surgery to fix or replace a faulty valve may be needed. If that is the case, we offer minimally invasive techniques to lessen pain and blood loss, and allow you to get back to your daily routine faster, with a healthier heart.

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Know the Difference: Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack

Heart attack and cardiac arrest are two of the most common heart conditions. People often use both events interchangeably, but they are not the same. To understand their differences, it helps to know what happens in both processes. Here are some of the distinct characteristics of each condition, including symptoms and possible causes.

Characteristics	Cardiac Arrest	Heart Attack
Immediate cause	Occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating. This condition can happen after or during recovering from a heart attack. With its pumping action disrupted, blood stops flowing to the brain, lungs and other vital organs. When sudden cardiac arrest occurs, heart attack is a common cause.	Occurs when a blocked artery prevents oxygen-rich blood from reaching a section of the heart. Unlike with sudden cardiac arrest, the heart usually does not stop beating during a heart attack.
Early warning symptoms	Occurs suddenly and often without warning Loss of consciousness Chest pain Shortness of breath Nausea Vomiting Occur in the hour before cardiac arrest sets in	Immediate and intense Starts slowly and persists for hours, days or weeks before heart attack Chest pain or discomfort Upper body discomfort Shortness of breath Breaking out in a cold sweat Feeling unusually tired for no reason Nausea Vomiting Sudden dizziness
Risk factors	Arrhythmia, particularly ventricular fibrillation and long QT syndrome Cardiomyopathy Coronary artery disease Heart failure Inherited disorders Some types of physical stress, such as intense physical activity, very low blood levels of potassium or magnesium, major blood loss and severe lack of oxygen and structural changes in the heart	Men after age 45 Women after age 55 (or after menopause) Family history of heart disease Preeclampsia Infections, such as COVID-19 Smoking High blood pressure High blood cholesterol Overweight and obesity Diet rich in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol and sodium Lack of exercise High blood sugar due to insulin or diabetes
What to do	Call 911 first, then use an automated external defibrillator (AED), if one is available. AEDs are programmed to give an electric shock if the equipment detects a dangerous arrhythmia. While waiting, begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and continue until professional emergency medical services arrive. Perform hands-only CPR to the beat of the classic disco song “Stayin’ Alive” to double or even triple a victim’s chance of survival.	Call 911 right away, even if you’re not sure it’s a heart attack—every minute matters. The longer a person goes without treatment, the greater the damage.

Heart attacks stem from a circulation problem, while an electrical issue triggers cardiac arrests. Despite their distinct processes, both require immediate medical attention to avoid further damage and even death. Don’t wait and get help quickly. Treatments work best when given right after symptoms occur.

If you are at risk for developing cardiovascular disease, seek medical attention or schedule a screening to confirm a diagnosis. We are here with the expertise and compassionate care to help you stay on top of your heart health. Please do not delay care.

Sources:
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
American Heart Association
Medline Plus