• If the valve is only mildly narrowed you are not likely to have any symptoms.
• If the narrowing becomes worse the left ventricle has to work harder to pump blood into the aorta. The wall of the ventricle becomes thickened (hypertrophied). Symptoms that may then develop include:

- Dizziness and faints (especially on exertion) due to the restricted blood supply.
- Chest pain (angina) when you exert yourself. This occurs because of the increased need for oxygen by the thickened ventricle and because of reduced blood flow to the coronary arteries.
- Irregular heartbeat which you may feel as palpitations.

• If the narrowing is severe the left ventricle may not function properly and you can develop heart failure. This causes shortness of breath, tiredness, and fluid retention in various tissues of the body. (See separate leaflet called 'Heart Failure'.)

What are the possible complications of aortic stenosis?

• Heart failure may become severe and life threatening.
• Endocarditis is an uncommon complication. This is an infection of the valve. Abnormal valves are more prone to infection than normal valves. Unless promptly treated, endocarditis can cause serious illness. (See separate leaflet called 'Infective Endocarditis'.)

By Lucie Tobin

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