Aortic stenosis is one of the most common and serious valve disease problems. Aortic stenosis is a narrowing of the aortic valve opening. Aortic stenosis restricts the blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta and may also affect the pressure in the left atrium.Watch an animation of aortic valve stenosis. Although some people have aortic stenosis because of a congenital heart defect called a bicuspid aortic valve, this condition more commonly develops during aging as calcium or scarring damages the valve and restricts the amount of blood flowing through.  Many people with aortic stenosis, or AS, don't experience noticeable symptoms until the amount of restricted blood flow becomes greatly reduced.

Symptoms of aortic stenosis may include Chest pain, Rapid, fluttering heartbeat,Trouble breathing or feeling short of breath,Feeling dizzy or light-headed, even fainting,Difficulty walking short distances,Swollen ankles or feet, Difficulty sleeping or needing to sleep sitting up, Decline in activity level or reduced ability to do normal activities. It may be important to note the person suffering from AS may not complain of symptoms. However, if you or your family members notice a decline in routine physical activities or significant fatigue, it’s worth a visit to your health care provider to check for reduced heart function. In addition to the symptoms of aortic stenosis, which may cause a patient to feel faint, weak, or lethargic, the wall of the left ventricle also may show muscular thickening because the ventricle must work harder to pump blood through the narrow valve opening into the aorta.