Heart valve disease affects the valves between the chambers of the heart. The heart has four chambers separated by small valves that open and close during the heart's contractions. The valves separate the upper chambers of the heart, the atria, from the lower chambers, the ventricles. Heart valve disease affects the valves' abilities to open or close properly, influencing how much blood the heart pumps and possibly affecting your activity level.
Identification
Heart valves also separate the ventricles from the vessels that send blood into circulation. When blood flows from the ventricles to the lungs or to the body, valves open and close to stop or start blood flow. When valves are diseased and do not work properly, they might allow blood to flow between the heart chambers or to leak or back into circulation. Untreated, heart valve disease can cause blood clots, congestive heart failure or a heart attack.
Effects
When you exercise, your heart rate increases to keep up with oxygen demands of the body. Your muscles require more oxygen with use and your heart beats faster to keep the muscles supplied with enough oxygen to continue moving. Each time your heart beats, the valves open and close to control blood flow. When you have heart valve disease, your valves may have difficulty keeping pace with a faster heart rate, which can affect how much blood flows to the lungs or to the rest of the body, according to the University of Michigan Health System.
Significance
Heart valve disease can occur for several reasons, including advancing age, infections or a congenital disorder. The University of Michigan Health System states that some people also develop heart valve disease because of atherosclerosis, which occurs when fatty plaque builds up inside the arteries. Exercise strengthens the cardiovascular system and can help to reduce your cholesterol levels and your risk of heart disease, helping to prevent or slow the progression of heart valve disease.
Function
When you exercise regularly, your heart pumps more efficiently and you lower your resting heart rate overall. Your heart is a type of muscle and just as with other muscles in the body, becomes stronger with use. Even during times of rest, a well-conditioned heart can oxygenate your body more efficiently. While your heart valves still need to function, getting your heart into shape to pump more efficiently will reduce the overall stress on your heart valves and possibly slow further damage, according to Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Considerations
If you have heart valve disease, talk with your doctor before starting an exercise regimen. If your valves are not opening or closing at the right pace, blood can back up into the circulatory system or the pulmonary system, causing you to be short of breath. This can make exercise difficult if you cannot breathe fast enough to keep up with the demands of exercise on the body. Your doctor might recommend a light exercise routine with limited time for activity, and she might recommend that you avoid some activities entirely that will put excess strain on your heart.
