Ask the Expert: Navigating structural heart disease

Biswajit Kar, MD, professor of internal medicine with the Center for Advanced Cardiopulmonary Therapies and Transplantation at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston.

Welcome to "Ask the Expert," a UTHealth Houston newsroom series where our leading physicians examine pressing health challenges. In this edition, we address structural heart disease, what it means, what to look for, and how to treat it.

Structural heart disease affects more than 5 million adults in the U.S., or 2.5% of the general population. It’s particularly common among older adults, affecting about 10% who are 75 and older.

Structural heart disease refers to damage or abnormalities in the anatomy of the heart, specifically in the valves, walls, chambers, and muscle of the heart. It is distinct from other heart issues, like clogged arteries or electrical rhythm problems. Structural heart disease affects how blood flows through the heart and how effectively the heart pumps.

What causes structural heart disease?

Structural heart disease can be caused by genetic abnormalities, illnesses during a pregnancy, or lifestyle habits, like exposure to alcohol and drugs. 

Symptoms of structural heart disease

Symptoms of structural heart disease can vary between men and women. While men may experience chest pain, women more frequently experience atypical symptoms like extreme fatigue, nausea, shortness of breath, or pain in the back, neck, or jaw. 

Common symptoms include: 

• Shortness of breath

• Chest pain or pressure

• Fatigue

• Irregular heartbeat

• Swelling in legs or abdomen

• Dizziness or fainting

• High or low blood pressure

Risk factors of structural heart disease include: 

• Aging, which causes calcium buildup on heart valves

• High blood pressure

• Heart attack

• Autoimmune diseases

• Heart infections, like endocarditis

• Excessive alcohol or drug use

• Radiation therapy

• Conditions like Marfan syndrome or amyloidosis

Diagnosis

At UTHealth Houston, we are finding new and improved ways to treat structural heart disease, including novel treatment methods specific to patients’ needs. 

Many people with structural heart disease live long, full lives, especially with regular monitoring and timely treatment. Prognosis depends on:

• The specific condition

• Severity

• Age and overall health

• How early it’s detected

Biswajit Kar, MD, is a professor of internal medicine and Memorial Hermann Chair in the Center for Advanced Cardiopulmonary Therapies and Transplantation at McGovern Medical School, vice president of strategy and development at UTHealth Houston Heart &Vascular, an interventional cardiologist at UT Physicians, and chief of the medical division of the Center for Advanced Heart Failure at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center. All quotes should be attributed to him.

For Media Inquiries or if you would like to submit future health topics: [email protected] or 713-500-3030