Aortic valve stenosis: what you need to know
Medically reviewed by
Prof. Vlad Gariboldi
Updated on
August 6, 2026
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Have you been presented with several treatment options?
Have you been presented with several treatment options?
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Torn between two treatments?
Torn between two treatments?
A specialist will explain exactly what each option entails, including effectiveness, side effects, and daily impact, so you can make your decision with confidence.
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Still unsure about your diagnosis?
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When facing cancer or a serious illness, every decision counts.
When facing cancer or a serious illness, every decision counts.
A doctor at an expert center will review your file to confirm your care plan, clarify the available options, and help you make decisions with confidence.
Have you received a diagnosis or been offered a treatment plan?
Have you received a diagnosis or been offered a treatment plan?
Have you received a diagnosis or been offered a treatment plan?
Submit your file in just a few minutes and get an expert opinion in under 7 days.
Have you received a diagnosis or been offered a treatment plan?
Submit your file in just a few minutes and get an expert opinion in under 7 days.
What is a medical second opinion?
What is a medical second opinion?
Following a diagnosis or a proposed treatment plan, a medical specialist can analyze your file and provide an additional perspective.
Your health insurance may cover your second opinion.
Your health insurance may cover your second opinion.
Many partner health insurance providers cover the Diagdoor service with no upfront costs. Check your eligibility as soon as you create your account.
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Are you looking for a second opinion for a loved one?
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How does a second opinion work on Diagdoor?
How does a second opinion work on Diagdoor?
Upload your medical documents online; our team will review your file within 48 hours, and an expert will provide their opinion in less than 7 days. Simple, secure, 100% online.
Not sure if your case is eligible?
Not sure if your case is eligible?
Our medical team can guide you before you submit your request. Describe your situation, and we will help you determine if Diagdoor can be of assistance.
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Aortic valve stenosis, commonly known as aortic narrowing, is a progressive heart condition that primarily affects people over 65. It often develops without symptoms for years before the heart begins to show signs of strain. Understanding the nature of the disease and its current stage is the first step before considering any action.
Key points
- Aortic valve stenosis, or aortic narrowing, refers to the progressive narrowing of the valve between the heart and the aorta, which hinders blood flow.
- It is the most common valvular heart disease in people over 65: approximately 5% of adults in this age group are affected.
- There are several degrees of severity (moderate, severe, critical) that determine monitoring and treatment decisions.
- Diagdoor allows you to obtain an opinion from a cardiologist specializing in valvular heart disease based on your medical records, in less than 7 days.
When the aortic valve narrows: mechanism and forms of the disease
The aortic valve controls the flow of blood between the left ventricle of the heart and the aorta. With age or due to a congenital abnormality, calcium deposits accumulate on its leaflets, stiffening them and gradually reducing their opening. The heart must then exert increasing effort to maintain blood flow until this overload manifests clinically.
There are three main forms:
- Degenerative calcified form : the most common, linked to aging through a process similar to atherosclerosis. It most often occurs after age 65.
- Congenital form due to bicuspid aortic valve : the valve has two leaflets instead of three from birth, which predisposes it to early calcification, between the ages of 30 and 65. This form can be hereditary within a family.
- Post-rheumatic form : a sequela of an untreated streptococcal infection (acute rheumatic fever), which has become rare in France but is still present in certain populations.
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~5%
adults over 65 affected by aortic stenosis in France
77 years old
is the average age at the time of hospitalization for aortic stenosis in France
56.5%
of patients hospitalized for this condition in France are men
Signs not to be dismissed as just a part of aging
Aortic stenosis can remain silent for many years before manifesting through three cardinal symptoms: shortness of breath during exertion (dyspnea), chest pain during exertion (angina), and fainting or loss of consciousness during exertion (syncope). These symptoms often appear gradually and can be mistaken for the effects of aging or a sedentary lifestyle. Their onset generally marks a milestone in the progression of the disease and warrants a prompt specialist evaluation.
How to assess the severity of aortic stenosis
Aortic stenosis is often discovered during an auscultation that reveals a characteristic heart murmur. Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography is the primary examination: it measures the valve area, pressure gradient, and blood flow velocity to determine the degree of severity. A comprehensive assessment may include a cardiac CT scan, coronary angiography, and an exercise stress test, depending on the patient's profile. These findings are then discussed in a multidisciplinary team meeting.
Therapeutic options available today
There is no medication capable of correcting valve narrowing: only valve replacement can treat severe aortic stenosis. Two techniques currently coexist: surgical valve replacement and TAVI (percutaneous implantation, without opening the chest). The choice between the two depends on age, general health, cardiac anatomy, and patient preference, and is always discussed by the Heart Team. The type of prosthesis, whether mechanical or biological, is a secondary decision-making factor with different implications for each situation.
Taking the time to confirm before a major decision
Severe aortic stenosis often involves a major medical decision: whether to operate or continue monitoring, choosing between TAVI and surgery, and selecting the type of prosthesis. These choices are based on personal parameters and may legitimately raise questions, even when you trust your medical team. A second opinion from a cardiologist specializing in valvular heart disease allows for a review of the entire file to confirm the proposed strategy or explore alternatives. On Diagdoor, this opinion is provided in less than 7 days, based on tests already performed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between aortic stenosis and a narrowed aortic valve?
Both terms refer to the exact same condition. "Aortic stenosis" is the international medical term, while "narrowed aortic valve" is a common descriptive term used in French.
Can you live a normal life with aortic stenosis?
In moderate and asymptomatic cases, regular monitoring via echocardiography allows the progression of the disease to be tracked without immediate intervention. Lifestyle adjustments should be discussed with your cardiologist based on your specific situation.
At what age can you develop aortic stenosis?
The degenerative calcified form typically occurs after age 65, with an average age of hospitalization of 77 in France. The form associated with a congenital bicuspid aortic valve can manifest between the ages of 30 and 65.
What is the difference between moderate and severe aortic stenosis?
The severity is measured by echocardiography: severe stenosis is defined by a valve area of less than 1 cm², a mean gradient greater than 40 mmHg, and a peak velocity greater than 4 m/s. These thresholds guide decisions regarding monitoring or intervention.
Does aortic stenosis always require surgery?
No: moderate or asymptomatic severe stenosis can be monitored over time through regular check-ups and echocardiograms. The decision to intervene depends on the severity, the presence of symptoms, and the medical team's overall assessment of the case.
Need the opinion of a
cardiac surgeon
Upload your file to Diagdoor. A
cardiac surgeon
specialist
of valvular heart diseases
analyzes it and provides a reasoned opinion in less than 7 days.
Sources
- French Society of Cardiology (SFC), "Chapter 08 – Item 233: Valvular Heart Diseases", 2024.
- INSERM press, "Cardiovascular diseases: a drug under trial to prevent aortic stenosis", 2025.
- Rouen University Hospital, "Aortic stenosis".
- Bordeaux University Hospital, "Aortic stenosis".
- Caducee.net, "Aortic stenosis in France: a decade of epidemiological evolution and its challenges", 2025 (reporting on the study by Grave et al., Journal of the American Heart Association, 2020).
Further Reading
Why get a second opinion?
Understand the situations in which a second opinion can help you confirm a diagnosis or guide your treatment plan.
How does it work?
Understand the situations in which a second opinion can help you confirm a diagnosis or guide your treatment plan.
Did you know?
Bicuspid aortic valve affects 1 to 2% of the general population. Because it can be hereditary, screening via echocardiography is recommended for first-degree relatives of affected patients.
Have you been offered surgery?
Have you been offered surgery?
Surgery is never trivial. A medical specialist will analyze your file to confirm the recommendation or explore other therapeutic options.
Is there an alternative to surgery?
Is there an alternative to surgery?
A surgeon specializing in your condition will re-evaluate your file to confirm if surgery is necessary or to identify less invasive solutions.
Have you been presented with several treatment options?
Have you been presented with several treatment options?
Have you been presented with several treatment options?
An expert physician will analyze your medical records and history to help you choose the most appropriate strategy for your situation, whether it be medical treatment, surgery, or monitoring.
Torn between two treatments?
Torn between two treatments?
A specialist will explain exactly what each option entails, including effectiveness, side effects, and daily impact, so you can make your decision with confidence.
Still unsure about your diagnosis?
Still unsure about your diagnosis?
Still unsure about your diagnosis?
A specialist doctor will analyze your complete file (tests, imaging, medical history) to provide you with a reasoned diagnosis and guide your care.
Have you just received a diagnosis?
Have you just received a diagnosis?
Have you just received a diagnosis?
Have your medical file reviewed by a specialist in your condition. You will receive an additional opinion in less than 7 days, helping you move forward with clarity.
Is your condition rare or complex?
Is your condition rare or complex?
Diagdoor gives you access to a doctor who specializes in your condition to confirm your treatment plan, no matter where you live.
When facing cancer or a serious illness, every decision counts.
When facing cancer or a serious illness, every decision counts.
A doctor at an expert center will review your file to confirm your care plan, clarify the available options, and help you make decisions with confidence.
Have you received a diagnosis or been offered a treatment plan?
Have you received a diagnosis or been offered a treatment plan?
Have you received a diagnosis or been offered a treatment plan?
Submit your file in just a few minutes and get an expert opinion in under 7 days.
Have you received a diagnosis or been offered a treatment plan?
Submit your file in just a few minutes and get an expert opinion in under 7 days.
What is a medical second opinion?
What is a medical second opinion?
Following a diagnosis or a proposed treatment plan, a medical specialist can analyze your file and provide an additional perspective.
Your health insurance may cover your second opinion.
Your health insurance may cover your second opinion.
Many partner health insurance providers cover the Diagdoor service with no upfront costs. Check your eligibility as soon as you create your account.
Are you looking for a second opinion for a loved one?
Are you looking for a second opinion for a loved one?
The process is entirely online. Upload your available medical documents, and our team will take care of the rest.
How does a second opinion work on Diagdoor?
How does a second opinion work on Diagdoor?
Upload your medical documents online; our team will review your file within 48 hours, and an expert will provide their opinion in less than 7 days. Simple, secure, 100% online.
Not sure if your case is eligible?
Not sure if your case is eligible?
Our medical team can guide you before you submit your request. Describe your situation, and we will help you determine if Diagdoor can be of assistance.
Need the opinion of a
cardiac surgeon
Need the opinion of a
cardiac surgeon
Upload your file to Diagdoor. A
cardiac surgeon
specialist
of valvular heart diseases
analyzes it and provides a reasoned opinion in less than 7 days.