What Is Aortic Stenosis?
Aortic stenosis is a condition in which the aortic valve—the valve that allows blood to exit the heart and supply the body—becomes narrowed. When this valve can’t open fully, blood flow out of the heart is restricted. As a result, the heart must work harder to push blood forward, which can eventually lead to heart damage, heart failure, and serious complications.
The aortic valve is the final gateway blood passes through before reaching the rest of the body. When it becomes stiff or narrowed, the entire cardiovascular system is affected.
Why Aortic Stenosis Is a Serious Condition
As the valve narrows, less oxygen-rich blood reaches vital organs. Over time, this increased workload can cause:
Thickening of the heart muscle
Reduced pumping efficiency
Worsening symptoms and declining exercise tolerance
Without proper monitoring and treatment, severe aortic stenosis can be life-threatening.
The good news: modern imaging and treatment options have dramatically improved outcomes, especially when the condition is detected early.
Common Symptoms of Aortic Stenosis
Symptoms often develop gradually and may not appear until the disease is advanced. They can include:
Shortness of breath, especially with activity
Chest pain or pressure
Fatigue or reduced stamina
Dizziness or fainting
Heart palpitations
Swelling in the legs or ankles
Some people have no symptoms at first, which is why routine evaluation and imaging are so important—especially in older adults.
What Causes Aortic Stenosis?
The most common causes include:
Age-related calcification: Calcium buildup stiffens the valve over time, most often after age 65
Congenital valve abnormalities: Some people are born with valves that wear out earlier than normal
Prior infections or inflammatory conditions: Past illnesses can damage the valve structure
Chronic conditions: High cholesterol, kidney disease, and autoimmune disorders may contribute
Who Is at Higher Risk?
Risk factors for aortic stenosis include:
Older age
Male sex
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Tobacco use
Because the condition often progresses silently, people with these risk factors benefit from proactive evaluation.
How Is Aortic Stenosis Diagnosed?
Aortic stenosis is usually suspected based on symptoms or a heart murmur heard during a physical exam. Echocardiography is the cornerstone of diagnosis.
Why Echocardiography Matters
An echocardiogram uses ultrasound to create real-time images of the heart and valves. It allows clinicians to:
Measure how narrow the aortic valve has become
Assess blood flow across the valve
Determine how hard the heart is working
Evaluate heart muscle thickness and function
Track disease progression over time
Unlike other tests, echocardiography provides both structural and functional information, making it essential for staging severity and guiding treatment decisions.
Monitoring vs Treatment: What Happens Next?
Mild or moderate aortic stenosis: Often monitored with periodic echocardiograms
Severe or symptomatic aortic stenosis: Typically requires valve intervention
Medications can help manage symptoms, but they do not stop the valve from narrowing. Once stenosis becomes severe, valve replacement—either surgical or transcatheter (TAVR)—is usually the definitive treatment.
Why Early Detection Is Critical
When aortic stenosis is identified and treated at the right time:
Symptoms improve
Heart damage can be prevented
Survival and quality of life increase significantly
Delaying evaluation or treatment increases the risk of irreversible heart damage and sudden complications.
The Bottom Line
Aortic stenosis is a common but serious valve condition—especially in older adults. Because symptoms can be subtle or delayed, echocardiography plays a vital role in detecting the disease, assessing severity, and guiding timely treatment.
If you’ve been told you have a heart murmur, are experiencing unexplained shortness of breath or chest discomfort, or have risk factors for valve disease, an echocardiogram is often the most important next step.
