Pulmonary valve disease is a condition in which the pulmonary valve — the valve located between your heart's lower right heart chamber (right ventricle) and the artery that delivers blood to the lungs (pulmonary artery) — doesn't function properly. This condition can keep blood from flowing properly from your heart to your lungs.

The most common causes for a leaky pulmonary valve is pulmonary hypertension or a congenital heart defect.

Examples of pulmonary valve stenosis symptoms include:

• chest pain
• fainting
• heart murmur
• unexplained fatigue
• difficulty breathing

Pulmonary valve stenosis can cause sudden death in severe instances. This is why diagnosis and treatment is vital to your health.

The defect may occur alone or with other heart defects that are present at birth. The condition can be mild or severe.

Narrowing that occurs in the valve itself is called pulmonary valve stenosis. There may also be narrowing just before or after the valve

Pulmonary valve stenosis can cause a heart murmur. A heart murmur sounds like an extra click, blowing, whooshing, or rasping sound when a doctor listens to your heart.

A physician may order certain imaging tests to visualize the heart’s anatomy.

• chest X-ray
• electrocardiogram (ECG)
• echocardiogram
• magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI)

These imaging tests can help your doctor see where blood may not be flowing freely or if there is narrowing of the pulmonary valve.

Seek medical treatment if you experience chest pain, shortness of breath, or fainting as a result of your pulmonary valve stenosis. These symptoms can indicate your condition is advancing.

Examples of medications prescribed may include:

• pills that prevent irregular heart rhythms
• blood thinners to reduce clotting
• prostaglandins to improve blood flow

A surgical procedure known as a valvuloplasty can stretch the pulmonary valve’s walls, enlarging it to improve blood flow.