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Heart Valve Calcification, What Is This? - Dr. Aklog (VIDEO)

By Dr. Lishan Aklog Expert February 12, 2009 - 11:19am
 
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Dr. Aklog explains what heart valve calcification is.

More Videos from Dr. Lishan Aklog 33 videos in this series

Dr. Aklog:

The valves of the heart can be affected by a process called calcification, and what that is, is really where the valve develops abnormal deposits of calcium on its cusps or leaflets, and that can show up as simply a finding on some kind of an imaging study, such as an echocardiogram or a CAT scan, or small specs of calcium can be visualized, or if it’s more advanced, it can actually lead to abnormal functioning of the valve.

A valve that so badly calcified is likely to be a valve that is not going to be able to open well and can cause a process called stenosis or narrowing, and that most commonly occurs on the aortic valve where aortic stenosis is very commonly a result of heavy, heavy calcification of the valve.

If your doctor tells you that you have calcifications on your valve but the valve is working normally, then that’s just a mild condition that needs to be followed over time as long as the valve is working well.

About Dr. Aklog, M.D.:
Dr. Lishan Aklog is the current Director and Chief of Cardiovascular Surgery at The Heart and Lung Institute of St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona and Director of EmpowHer's Medical Advisory Board. Specializing in adult cardiac care, he graduated from Harvard College followed by Harvard Medical School. Dr. Aklog was a cardiothoracic resident at Brigham and Women’s/Boston Children’s Hospital, an Associate Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, and completed international fellowships in London, England and Paris, France.

View Dr. Aklog Videos:
http://www.empowher.com/users/dr-lishan-aklog

Visit Dr. Aklog at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center

 
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