2 yanktonmedicalclinic.com Models may be used in photos and illustrations. 2026 © Coffey Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. EXAMINER is published as a community service for the residents of the service area of Yankton Medical Clinic, P.C., an Avera Partner, 1104 West 8th St., Yankton, SD 57078 yanktonmedicalclinic.com | 605-665-7841 OUR MISSION To provide timely, compassionate, quality care to all who seek that care, with respect for and trust in those we serve. OUR VISION To be an independent regional center of medical excellence committed to quality care and medical education. What is heart valve disease? Your heart has an important job: pumping blood throughout your body. Four valves inside your heart—the pulmonary, aortic, tricuspid and mitral valves—help this muscular organ do its work. Valves regulate the flow of blood into the heart, through each of the four chambers and back out of the heart. They open and close at precisely the right time to enable this movement. If one or more of the heart’s valves stop functioning correctly, your heart can’t do its job as efficiently. This is called heart valve disease, a general term for several conditions that can affect your heart valves. For instance, a valve may not open all the way, partially blocking blood flow. Or a malfunctioning valve may not close all the way, causing blood to leak backward instead of moving forward. Underdiagnosed and undertreated More than 5 million Americans— many of them older adults— have heart valve disease. It’s often underdiagnosed and undertreated, and it causes more than 25,000 deaths per year. Heart valve disease can be congenital—a condition you’re born with—but it also can be caused by: ● Wear and tear from age. ● Calcium deposits on the valves. ● Heart failure. ● Heart attack. ● High blood pressure. ● Autoimmune conditions, like lupus. ● Radiation therapy to the chest to treat cancer. Diagnosis and treatment Not everyone with heart valve disease experiences symptoms, so it’s possible to have the condition and not know it. When symptoms do appear, they include: ● Chest pain. ● Rapid, irregular heartbeat. ● Weakness. ● Fatigue. ● Shortness of breath. ● Light-headedness. ● Fainting. ● Swelling in the abdomen, feet or ankles. Our cardiologists, Tim Irwin, MD, and Venkata Pajjuru, MD, provide specialized care in dealing with and diagnosing heart valve disease. They may be able to hear a murmur while listening to your heartbeat with a stethoscope. It often sounds like a whoosh or a click. If they detect a murmur, they may confirm the diagnosis using one or more of these tests: ● Echocardiogram. ● Electrocardiogram. ● X-ray or CT scan. ● Exercise test. Heart valve disease can become serious, but it is usually very treatable. Dr. Irwin and Dr. Pajjuru have advanced expertise in treating and monitoring heart valve disease. Treatment typically involves surgery to repair or replace the faulty valves. Sources: American Heart Association; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Merck Manuals Online Medical Library Tim Irwin, MD, FACC 605-664-2741 Venkata Pajjuru, MD, FACC 605-664-2741
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