It's Figure It Out Friday!

Today is Figure It Out Friday at Aortic Hope.

We want to help you figure it out by sharing some really interesting and important information about something that isn't discussed too often and that is Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease.

In this article by the Cleveland Clinic titled Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease, all of the What, Why, Where and How' of BAV are discussed.

"The aortic valve is a one-way valve between the heart and the aorta, the main artery from the heart that distributes oxygen-rich blood to the body. Normally, the aortic valve has three small flaps or leaflets that open widely and close securely to regulate blood flow, allowing blood to flow from the heart to the aorta and preventing blood from flowing backwards into the heart.

In bicuspid aortic valve disease (BAVD), the valve has only two leaflets. With this deformity, the valve doesn’t function perfectly, but it may function adequately for years without causing symptoms or obvious signs of a problem.

The latest studies suggest that bicuspid aortic valve disease is caused by a connective tissue disorder that also causes other circulatory system problems. People with bicuspid aortic valve disease also may have abnormal coronary arteries, aortic aneurysm or an abnormal thoracic aorta (the portion of the aorta that passes through the upper chest) and unstable (labile) high blood pressure."

There is so much great information in this article so to read it in it's entirety, click here