Questions posted in the Heart Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Subject: Re: aortic stenosis
Forum: The Heart Forum

Topic Area: Heart Attack

Posted by michael W on June 30, 1999 at 09:04:52

My father had a heart attack last week
and the coronor deciphered that it
was from heart disease and aortic stenosis.
My father new he was having shortness of breath
since december. He went to many doctors and
then had passed out two weeks ago, after going
to the hospital they gave him some medicine
and said he had calcium billed up on his heart
we never heard the word bad valve or heart attack
or anything to that nature. He asked if he could
exercise and they said no problem and sent him on
his way, Well a week later he died on the golf
course can anyone give me there opinion. It seems
to me that shortness of breath and calcium on the
valve is a red light?


Posted by CCF CARDIO MD - CRC on June 30, 1999 at 14:32:43

Dear Michael,

I'm sorry to hear of your father's death. Aortic stenosis is a narrowing of the aortic valve and may lead to chest pain, heart failure, fainting and sudden death. The diagnosis is generally made on physical exam and supported by echocardiogram. Severe AS may not be easy to detect on physical exam. The treatment for severe aortic stenosis is generally surgical.

I hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions.

If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.





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