This is a gentler test. You will be asked to walk laps up and down a corridor of a predetermined distance for 6 minutes. You can stop whenever you  need  to rest and restart  when you feel able. The distance you walk in 6 minutes is recorded. This can be a useful test for demonstrating […]

Stickers are placed on the chest to record the electrical activity of the heart. You are then asked to walk on a treadmill whilst your blood pressure and heart rate are monitored.  This is recommended in many patients with severe valve disease and normally functioning left ventricles who genuinely have no symptoms – even after […]

This is an ultrasound scan of the heart and it is harmless.  Echocardiograms are usually done in hospital, sometimes in community centres.  A full study usually takes 30-45 minutes.  During the test an ultrasound probe is placed on the chest and moving pictures of the heart are taken.  The echocardiogram not only diagnoses valve disease, […]

Stickers are placed on the chest and the electrical activity of the heart is recorded. A resting ECG is routine for a new patient, although it does not usually show specific abnormalities associated with valve disease. It may also be requested after any change in symptoms including an event like a dizzy spell, or if […]

The chest X-ray is less useful for heart disease diagnosis now that echocardiography is available. However it is still useful to show the lungs, since they may give a clue to respiratory causes of breathlessness e.g. COPD or pleural effusions. It may also show calcium in the valves or pericardium (the lining around the heart). […]

Sometimes blood tests are performed in patients with heart valve disease. If you have symptoms such as shortness of breath or chest pain/discomfort, your healthcare team may wish to check your blood count to ensure you are not anaemic (low red cell count). Often your baseline kidney, liver and thyroid function is also checked. Before […]

It is important to check blood pressure and pulse rate in patients with heart valve disease. High blood pressure is a common condition and should be treated in those where the blood pressure is persistently elevated. Occasionally your healthcare professional may also check your oxygen levels, especially if you experience shortness of breath. 

Simply listening to the heart with a stethoscope will diagnose heart valve disease in many patients. When blood flow abnormally across a heart valve, a sound called a ‘murmur’ is heard. An echocardiogram is required to confirm whether this murmur is due to underlying heart valve disease.