The aorta is the large artery that originates in the left ventricle (lower chamber) of the heart. Aortic stenosis is the narrowing or obstruction of the heart's aortic valve, which prevents it from opening properly and blocks the flow of blood from the left ventricle to the aorta.

As the aortic valve becomes more narrow, the pressure increases inside the left heart ventricle. This causes the left heart ventricle to become thicker, which decreases blood flow and can lead to chest pain. As the pressure continues to increase, blood may back up into the lungs and you may feel short of breath. Severe forms of aortic stenosis prevent enough blood from reaching the brain and rest of the body. Lightheadedness and fainting can result.

Aortic stenosis may be present from birth (congenital), or it may develop later in life (acquired). It is caused by many disorders. One common cause is rheumatic fever, a complication of untreated strep throat. Calcification of the valve can also cause this condition. In this case, the condition is usually not seen until a person reaches their 70s.

Aortic stenosis occurs in approximately 5 out of every 10,000 people. It is more common among men.

• Fainting, weakness, or dizziness with activity
• Breathlessness with activity
• Sensation of feeling the heart beat (palpitations)
• Chest pain, angina-type
  • Under the chest bone, may move to other areas 
  • crushing, squeezing, pressure, tightness
  • Pain increases with exercise, relieved with rest

Note: Aortic stenosis may show no symptoms until late in the course of the disease.

The health care provider will be able to feel a vibration or movement when placing the hand over the heart. A heart murmur, click, or other abnormal sound is almost always heard through a stethoscope. There may be a faint pulse or changes in the quality of the pulse in the neck. A change in neck pulse is called pulsus parvus et tardus.

Blood pressure may be low.

The following tests may be performedn:

• Left cardiac catheterization
• Echocardiogram
• Doppler ultrasonography
• Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)
• Chest x-ray
• ECG

This disease may also alter the results of the following:

• Chest MRI
• Aortic angiography