Roughly 11 million Americans have heart valve disease (HVD), a potentially disabling and deadly disease. Many know little to nothing about HVD. The heart contains four one-way valves that allow blood to flow in and out of the heart muscle. Heart valve disease occurs when one of these valves stops working. This may be caused by a hidden heart condition or even an illness or simply from aging. In rare cases, HVD can lead to a heart attack. Some symptoms of heart valve disease range from chest pain, fluttering or heart palpitations with physical exertion, increased heartbeat with physical activity, symptoms of congestive heart failure, which include swelling of the legs and feet along with shortness of breath and fatigue. If you would like a second opinion on your treatment and diagnosis contact us at secondopinions.com for your peace of mind.