If you are having symptoms, certain medications can ease them. Other medications help prevent problems that may occur due to valve disease. Your doctor can discuss what medications might be right for you. Here are some types of medications that may be prescribed and what they do.

Learn how to care for yourself as you recover at home after a thoracotomy. This includes information on when and how to go back to your usual activities.

Thoracotomy is surgery used to diagnose and treat certain lung problems. Learn about what to expect before and after the surgery.

Mitral valve prolapse is the most common heart valve problem. It's usually not serious. With this problem, the valve bulges slightly back into the atrium when it closes. This may allow a tiny amount of blood to leak.

Aortic insufficiency means your aortic valve has problems closing. Blood leaks back through the valve. Extra blood may cause the ventricle to stretch. A stretched ventricle doesn't squeeze as well. In time, the heart won't move blood the way it should.

Aortic stenosis means your aortic valve has a problem opening. The left ventricle has to work harder to push the blood through the valve. In some cases, this extra work will make the muscle of the ventricle thicken. This type of stenosis can quickly get worse.

Rectal bleeding is when blood passes through your rectum and anus. Rectal bleeding may be a sign of a serious problem in your rectum, colon, or upper GI tract.

When you have rectal bleeding, tests may be done to help confirm your diagnosis and plan your treatment. Read on to learn more about these procedures.

Valve disease occurs when a valve doesn't open or close the way it should. If a valve doesn't open all the way, the heart has to push blood through a smaller opening. If the valve doesn't close tightly, some blood will leak backward.

The heart contains 4 valves. The valves open and close to keep blood moving in the right direction through the heart. With each squeeze, the valves open and close to keep blood moving forward.