What does stenosis of a heart valve lead to?

Stenosis of a heart valve refers to the narrowing of the valve, which restricts the normal flow of blood through the valve. This can create a situation where blood becomes turbulent as it tries to navigate through the narrowed opening. In addition to turbulence, the heart chamber behind the stenotic valve may become enlarged due to the increased pressure and volume overload because the heart has to work harder to pump blood through the smaller opening.

As the heart compensates for this increased workload, the affected chamber—whether it is the left atrium in mitral stenosis or the left ventricle in aortic stenosis—can experience hypertrophy (thickening of the heart muscle) and dilation, leading to overall chamber enlargement. This multi-faceted impact on the heart's architecture and function outlines why turbulent flow and chamber enlargement are direct consequences of valve stenosis, marking this choice as the most accurate response.

The other potential outcomes associated with stenosis, such as decreased blood flow or increased blood pressure, may also be relevant but they are more secondary effects or indirect consequences rather than the primary mechanisms of what stenosis leads to. Reduced heart rate, on the other hand, is not a direct result of valve stenosis, as the heart may