Aortic Stenosis

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Aortic Stenosis

Find out how PeaceHealth can help you take your life back from aortic stenosis.

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What is aortic stenosis?

Aortic stenosis (also called aortic valve stenosis) occurs when the aortic valve doesn’t open fully, which prevents proper blood flow from your heart to the aorta and the rest of your body. When aortic stenosis occurs, the heart must work harder to pump blood, which may weaken your heart muscle. Aortic stenosis can eventually lead to serious heart problems like heart failure, stroke, heart arrhythmias, and death if left untreated.

Treatments

The treatment plan for aortic stenosis depends on the severity of your condition and personal health characteristics. Treatments may include one or a combination of the following:

  • Lifestyle modifications to achieve healthier habits
  • Regular checkups and monitoring
  • Medication management, including ACE inhibitors, Beta-blockers, diuretics and heart rhythm medicines
  • Minimally invasive TAVR (transcatheter aortic valve replacement) procedure
  • Open heart aortic valve replacement surgery
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Take your life back from aortic stenosis

Download our TAVR procedure guide

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Choosing PeaceHealth for your aortic stenosis care

PeaceHealth cardiologists average 34 years of experience treating aortic stenosis and treat an average of 2900 aortic stenosis patients every year. We have the experience to help you manage your condition and lead a full healthy life, so you never have to miss a beat.

Quality care close to home

You don’t have to wait to get the care you need. With more than 50 heart specialists across Alaska, Washington and Oregon, you can conveniently and promptly get an appointment close to home.

Trusted expertise

PeaceHealth is consistently recognized for providing safe, effective, and high-quality cardiac care. Recent recognition has come from the American Heart Association, the American Stroke Association, the Foundation for Health Care Quality, and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

Innovative treatments

We take pride in introducing minimally invasive heart technologies and surgical techniques into our communities. Today's advanced heart procedures are designed to help you recover quickly and so that you can return to your normal life.

Personalized care plans

We understand every patient has a different story. Our cardiac specialists will partner with you and your primary care physician to evaluate your condition and ensure you get connected with a treatment pathway that best fits your needs.

Symptoms and diagnosis of aortic stenosis

You should make an appointment with your primary care physician or cardiologist if you experience any of the following symptoms:

  • Abnormal heart sound (heart murmur) or feeling the heartbeat (palpitation)
  • Chest pain, discomfort or tightness (especially with activity)
  • Breathing problems (especially with activity)
  • Cough (especially if bloody)
  • Fatigue
  • Fainting, weakness, or dizziness (especially with activity)
  • Not eating enough or gaining enough weight (mainly in children with the condition)

Diagnosis of aortic stenosis is typically done through one or more tests conducted at your appointment. This may include cardiac computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), doppler echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, chest x-ray, exercise stress test, or cardiac catheterization

Find a PeaceHealth cardiologist

Schedule an appointment today if your atrial fibrillation is unmanaged, or you aren’t satisfied with your current treatment plan.
 
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TAVR Procedure

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TAVR Procedure

Take your life back from aortic stenosis with this innovative, minimally invasive procedure.

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A PeaceHealth provider discusses the TAVR procedure with a patient in a clinical setting

What is TAVR?

PeaceHealth takes pride in introducing minimally-invasive heart technologies and surgical techniques into our communities, including this advanced procedure that helps patients take their lives back from aortic stenosis.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a procedure that places a new aortic valve inside the diseased valve. TAVR can reduce aortic stenosis symptoms, improve heart function, and allow patients to avoid open heart surgery and get back to doing what they love quickly and more easily.

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Take your life back from aortic stenosis

Download our TAVR procedure guide

Download the guide
 

How does the TAVR procedure work?

The TAVR procedure can be performed using multiple different starting points on the body. Two common examples follow:

  • A small incision is made in the upper leg. Then, your surgeon guides the new valve up to your heart, into your artery, and to the diseased valve.
  • A small incision is made in the chest. Then, your surgeon guides the new valve through a large artery or the left ventricle and to the diseased valve.

Both approaches are minimally invasive. The procedure typically takes 1-2 hours, and patients are typically sent home from the hospital within 3-5 days. 

Is TAVR right for me?

Your first step should be scheduling a visit to your primary care physician or cardiologist. Your care team will develop a personalized care plan to determine if TAVR is right for you, and if not, explore a range of treatments from lifestyle changes and medication management to open-heart surgery.

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Choose PeaceHealth for your TAVR procedure

You won’t miss a beat when you choose PeaceHealth for your TAVR procedure.

The trusted choice

Your heart is in good hands when you pick PeaceHealth. Our cardiac teams that perform TAVR have an average of 32 years of surgical experience and are extensively trained on the procedure. We are the only NCDR Transcatheter Valve Certified program in the communities that we serve.

Quality care

The TAVR procedure can be performed at locations in Washington and Oregon, so you can get the care you need without traveling far. And you can schedule an appointment with a PeaceHealth cardiologist more quickly than any of the leading heart care providers in the communities that we serve.

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Mitral Regurgitation

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Mitral Regurgitation

Find out how PeaceHealth can help you take your life back from mitral regurgitation.

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A PeaceHealth cardiology provider examines a patient in a clinical setting.

What is mitral regurgitation?

Mitral regurgitation (also called mitral valve regurgitation) occurs when the mitral valve does not close properly. This causes a “regurgitation,” where blood leaks back into the mitral valve whenever the left ventricle contracts. Proper treatment of the condition is very important, because the condition can lead to problems like heart failure or heart arrhythmias if left untreated.

Treatments

The treatment plan for mitral regurgitation depends on the severity of your condition and personal health characteristics. Treatments may include one or a combination of the following:

  • Lifestyle modifications to achieve healthier habits
  • Regular checkups and monitoring
  • Medication management, including Beta-blockers, diuretics, blood thinners and blood pressure medicines
  • Mininally invasive MitraClip procedure 
  • Open heart mitral valve repair or replacement surgery
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Take your life back from mitral regurgitation

Learn about the MitraClip procedure.

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Choosing PeaceHealth for your mitral regurgitation care

PeaceHealth cardiologists average 34 years of experience treating mitral regurgitation and treat an average of 1,400 mitral regurgitation patients every year. We have the experience to help you manage your condition and lead a full healthy life, so you never have to miss a beat.

Quality care close to home

You don’t have to wait to get the care you need. With more than 50 heart specialists across Alaska, Washington and Oregon, you can conveniently and promptly get an appointment close to home.

Trusted expertise

PeaceHealth is consistently recognized for providing safe, effective, and high-quality cardiac care. Recent recognition has come from the American Heart Association, the American Stroke Association, the Foundation for Health Care Quality, and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

Innovative treatments

We take pride in introducing minimally invasive heart technologies and surgical techniques into our communities. Today's advanced heart procedures are designed to help you recover quickly and so that you can return to your normal life.

Personalized care plans

We understand every patient has a different story. Our cardiac specialists will partner with you and your primary care physician to evaluate your condition and ensure you get connected with a treatment pathway that best fits your needs.

Symptoms and diagnosis of mitral regurgitation

You should make an appointment with your primary care physician or cardiologist if you experience any of the following symptoms:

  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath with activity or when lying down
  • Fatigue
  • Exhaustion
  • Lightheadedness
  • Rapid breathing
  • Rapid heartbeat or the unpleasant sensation of rapid, fluttering heartbeat (palpitations)
  • Excessive urination at night
  • Swelling in the legs, abdomen, or the veins in your neck

Diagnosis of mitral regurgitation is typically done through one or more tests conducted at your appointment. This may include a computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the heart, echocardiogram, or cardiac catheterization.

Find a PeaceHealth cardiologist

Schedule an appointment today if your atrial fibrillation is unmanaged, or you aren’t satisfied with your current treatment plan.
 
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Don't Miss a Beat

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Don't Miss a Beat

15,000 people trust us with their heart care every year. We’ll help you take control of your heart health, so you don’t have to miss a beat.

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Northwest Washington

360-230-7382

Meet our team

Anacortes
Bellingham
Sedro-Woolley
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Southwest Washington

360-230-7683

Meet our team

Salmon Creek
Vancouver
Longview
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Oregon

541-256-2575

Meet our team

Roseburg
Florence
Eugene/Springfield

 

Existing PeaceHealth Patients

If you are already a PeaceHealth cardiology patient, you can request an appointment in our patient portal. Log in at peacehealth.org/mypeacehealth. Then choose "Visits" and follow the prompts to request a visit. Don't have a My PeaceHealth account? You can sign up at my.peacehealth.org.

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Nearly 1 in 2 adults in the United States have some form of heart disease.  Do you know your risk?

Heart disease can be deadly if left untreated. Our assessment will help you understand your risk for heart disease in just a few minutes. You’ll either get the peace of mind of knowing your heart is healthy, or if you do have an elevated risk, we’ll connect you with the resources you need to take control of your heart health.

Heart health quiz

Why PeaceHealth?

PeaceHealth's cardiovascular care is highly regarded by industry experts. We are grateful to have earned site-specific honors for our care – TAVR, Watchman, cardiac and stroke care, cardiothoracic surgery and others. In addition to our local achievements, we are honored collectively to serve 15,000 patients who trust us with their heart care every year. Let us put together a personalized heart care plan for you so you can enjoy all of life’s incredible moments.

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Local convenience and expertise

PeaceHealth heart care clinics are located in nine Pacific Northwest cities, including four cities that are home to our hospital-based comprehensive care centers where heart surgerical procedures are performed (Bellingham, Eugene/Springfield, Longview and Vancouver). Our expansive presence is an advantage, offering patients more promptly scheduled care closer to home.



 

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Meet our team

More than 50 heart specialists – cardiologists and surgeons – are available at PeaceHealth to help patients with a wide range of heart conditions. Here you will find some of our communities most experienced experts for your care. Each is available to partner with you and your primary care physician to evaluate your condition and ensure you get connected with a treatment pathway that best fits your needs. Find a provider near you



 

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Innovative treatments

PeaceHealth offers advanced procedures that help get patients back to doing the things they love. We take pride in introducing minimally invasive heart technologies and surgical techniques into our communities, like MitraClip for patients with mitral regurgitation, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for patients with aortic stenosis, and Watchman for patients with atrial fibrillation.

Conditions & Treatments

Cutting-edge cardiovascular care is right here in your community at PeaceHealth. We use advanced technology for the diagnosis, treatment, and long-term maintenance of heart and vascular needs, including:

Heart disease management, treatment, and care is evolving rapidly. Our cardiac specialists get people back to normal life quickly by using the most innovative and minimally invasive techniques possible to diagnose and treat all kinds of heart issues, including:

Heart Health Resources

Expertise and excellence in cardiovascular care

When troubles mount, love steps in

They were running late that morning due to car trouble. Breathlessly, the mom checked her seven-year-old daughter in for an appointment at PeaceHealth Medical Group’s pediatric clinic in Bellingham, Washington. Then she learned the visit wouldn’t be covered by her insurance, a state managed care plan that did not include PeaceHealth. Unfortunately, that wasn’t clear when the appointment was made.  The mom instantly burst into tears and said “I can’t do this anymore.”

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Surgeries restore vision and lives

This harvest season is completely different for Fulgencio de Jesús Pineda Alvarenga. For the first time in 25 years, the 50-year-old Salvadoran will happily be able to go back to work in the fields to earn money to support his family—thanks to surgeons who restored his eyesight earlier this year. And for Berta del Carmen Perdomo Garcia, a 64-year-old who had been nearly blind just six months before surgery. She is overjoyed to regain her independence. She is now able to make tortillas and care for her family every day.