If there are no symptoms or symptoms are mild, only observation may be required. If symptoms are moderate to severe, hospitalization may be necessary.
Medications can include diuretics, digoxin, and other medications to control heart failure. Symptomatic people may be advised to avoid strenuous physical activity. People with symptoms of aortic stenosis (difficulty breathing, chest pain, fainting episodes) should have a physical exam every 6 to 12 months and an ECG performed every 1 to 3 years.
Surgical repair or replacement of the valve is the preferred treatment for symptomatic aortic stenosis. Patients with advanced heart failure may benefit from a less invasive procedure called balloon valvuloplasty. This is a procedure performed through catheterization of the aortic valve via a balloon placed through the artery in the groin, which is advanced across the valve and inflated. This may relieve the obstruction caused by the narrowed valve.
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