Lifestyle

6 Signs of Heart Valve Disease Most People Blame on Getting Older

By Curtis Jones · October 19, 2026

Getting winded on the stairs at 70 feels like part of the deal. Sometimes it is a heart valve. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute says symptoms of heart valve disease that come with older age may happen slowly, and that many people mistake early signs, such as getting breathless during typical activities, for normal aging. Some people have no symptoms at all.

Your heart has four valves that open and shut with each beat to keep blood moving in the right direction. Trouble starts when a valve leaks or becomes too narrow. The American Heart Association calls aortic stenosis, a narrowing of the valve that lets blood out to the body, one of the most common and serious valve problems. It usually develops as calcium builds up on the valve. The AHA says it often begins after age 60 but may not cause symptoms until the 70s or 80s. MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine’s health site, puts it at about 2% of people over 65, and it is more common in men.

These six signs are easy to write off as age.

Getting short of breath doing ordinary things. NHLBI lists rapid breathing or difficulty breathing, especially when climbing stairs, moving fast, or otherwise exerting yourself. If a walk you used to take easily now leaves you winded, mention it.

Feeling more tired than usual. NHLBI says extreme tiredness is often the first symptom. Fatigue has many possible causes, which is why it is so easy to ignore.

Quietly doing less. The AHA lists difficulty walking short distances and a drop in activity level among the symptoms of aortic stenosis. People often adjust without noticing, taking the elevator or skipping errands. The AHA says someone with the condition may not report symptoms, so if you or someone close to you notices unusual fatigue or a decline in everyday activity, talk with a health care professional.

Dizziness or fainting. NHLBI lists dizziness, fainting when standing up, and brief loss of consciousness. MedlinePlus notes that with aortic stenosis, fainting, weakness, or dizziness often comes with activity.

Chest pressure that comes with effort. MedlinePlus says chest pain from aortic stenosis may get worse with activity and reach into the arm, neck, or jaw, and the chest may feel tight or squeezed. MedlinePlus says to contact your provider if you have symptoms of aortic stenosis.

A fluttering heartbeat or new swelling. NHLBI includes the feeling that your heart is beating too fast or skipping a beat, plus swelling around the eyes, ankles, or abdomen.

The first step is often simple. During an exam, a doctor can listen with a stethoscope for a heart murmur or an irregular rhythm. NHLBI says an echocardiogram, a painless test that uses sound waves to make moving pictures of the heart, is the most common test for valve problems. MedlinePlus says a murmur or other abnormal sound is almost always heard in aortic stenosis.

NHLBI lists older age, high blood pressure, diabetes, a family history of early heart disease, and past chest radiation for cancer among the risk factors. At all ages, men are more likely than women to have conditions such as aortic stenosis.

Most valve problems can be treated, NHLBI says. Medicine can ease symptoms, and a faulty valve can be repaired or replaced. MedlinePlus notes that a less invasive option, transcatheter aortic valve replacement or TAVR, is becoming more common, and that results of aortic valve replacement are often excellent. Left untreated, valve disease can lead to heart failure, dangerous rhythm problems, or cardiac arrest. If any of these signs sound familiar, ask your doctor to listen to your heart at your next visit.

This article is for general information and is not medical advice. If you have chest pain, fainting, or sudden shortness of breath, seek medical care right away.