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Heart, section through the middle Heart, front view Aortic stenosis Heart valves
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Aortic stenosis
Alternative Names: Aortic valve stenosis Symptoms: fainting or weakness with activity breathlessness with activity sensation of feeling the heart beat (palpitations) chest pain, angina-type under the sternum, may radiate crushing, squeezing, pressure, tightness increased with exercise, relieved with rest Note: Aortic stenosis may show no symptoms until late in the course of the disease. Text Continues Below Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease: dizziness Signs and tests: Examination shows a palpable chest thrill or heave (vibration or movement felt by holding the hand over the heart). There is almost always a heart murmur, click, or other abnormal sound on auscultation (examination of the chest with a stethoscope). There may be a faint pulse or changes in the quality of the pulse in the neck (the change in pulse is known as pulsus parvus et tardus). Blood pressure may be low. Aortic stenosis and/or enlargement of the left ventricle may be revealed on: left cardiac catheterization echocardiogram (sonogram test of the heart) Doppler ultrasonography transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) chest X-ray may show dilation of the aorta. An ECG may show left-ventricular enlargement or arrhythmias (unusual pattern of heart beats) such as ventricular tachycardia or sinus bradycardia. Page:  1 | 2 | Next >>