What Is Structural Heart Disease? Symptoms, Causes & Modern Treatment Options

03/24/2026

Think of your heart as your “home” with multiple rooms, doors, a water pipe supply, and other structural systems, working together perfectly to keep it running. 

The room represents the heart chamber, the doors symbolize valves managing blood flow, and the pipes carry oxygenated and deoxygenated blood throughout your body. 

Now, what might happen if the doors do not open or close properly, there is a hole in the walls, and pipes are disfigured? Chances are, the entire system will struggle to work properly.

Structural heart disease is similar to this scenario, in which there is an issue with the structure of your heart, affecting how your blood moves through it. The best cardiologists say early detection and appropriate treatment help maintain better heart health and enhance the quality of life.

Read Also: How to avoid Cardiac Disease? 

What Is Structural Heart Disease?

Structural heart disease is an umbrella term for any issue with the structure of your heart. 

It means there is an abnormality in the structure or function:

• Valves (which ensure that blood moves at the right time and in the correct direction)
• Walls (composed of muscle known as epicardium, myocardium, and endocardium to protect the heart)
• Chambers (known as right/left atria and right/left ventricles allow blood to flow throughout your body)

These structural issues can be congenital, meaning you can be born with them, or you can develop them later in your life. 

If left untreated, structural heart disease can lead to other health problems over time; hence, cardiologists in the best heart care centers, such as Eternal Hospital, say timely diagnosis is important.

Read Also: Heart Health Check: Symptoms of Trouble and Risk Factors Explained

Types of Structural Heart Disease

Here are the types:

Category	Types	What Happens in These Conditions
Heart Valve Disease	Aortic stenosis/regurgitation, mitral valve disease, tricuspid/pulmonic valve disease	Valves fail to open/close properly, disrupting blood flow.
Congenital Defects	Atrial septal defect (ASD), ventricular septal defect (VSD), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), tetralogy of Fallot	Structural issues present at birth, like holes in heart walls or vessel malformations.
Cardiomyopathy	Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy	Thickened or weakened your heart muscle impairs pumping.
Other Structural Issues	Coronary artery fistula, patent foramen ovale (PFO), coarctation of the aorta	Abnormal connections or narrowing affecting heart function.

Read Also: What is Coronary Heart Disease?

What are the Symptoms?

Structural heart disease does not have any signs or symptoms; hence, you might not be aware if you have them or not. 

But as the condition progresses, you may experience the following symptoms:

• Chest pain.
• Chest tightness or pressure.
• Dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting.
• Fatigue.
• High blood pressure.
• Irregular heartbeat.
• Kidney dysfunction.
• Shortness of breath.
• Swelling in the abdomen, ankles or feet.

Read Also: Understanding Cardiovascular Disease: Key Risks And Root Causes

Causes Structural Heart Disease

You can be born with the condition because of problems with your body’s DNA or genetics.

You can also develop these later in life due to the following:

• Aging
• A bad lifestyle, such as alcohol addiction
• Autoimmune disease
• Diabetes and thyroid disease
• High blood pressure
• Plaque accumulation in arteries (atherosclerosis)

Read Also: Cardiac Diseases: Types, Warning Signs & Prevention Tips

Common Diagnostic Tools to Confirm Structural Cardiac Disease

Experts at Eternal Hospital use a combination of advanced tests to confirm the diagnosis and curate a personalized treatment.

Test	What It Checks
Echocardiogram (transthoracic or transesophageal)	Shows the heart’s size, valves, and pumping strength.
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)	Detects abnormal heart rhythms associated with structural defects.
Chest X‑ray	Reveals heart enlargement or fluid in the lungs.
Cardiac MRI or CT scan	Gives detailed images of heart anatomy and valves, especially for complex cases.
Cardiac catheterization	Measures pressures inside the heart and can be used to plan procedures such as valve repair or closure of defects.

To Summarize

Structural heart disease can make it hard for your heart to pump blood throughout your body. This can damage your organs and other tissues, leading to many health problems and symptoms.

Not all structural heart disease requires treatment, especially if they are asymptomatic; your doctor can manage it through regular monitoring instead of immediate intervention.

If required, the treatment is based on specific defect type, symptom presence, age, and overall health.

The Treatment May Include

• Medications, such as beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, or diuretics.
• Minimally invasive procedures such as transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), MitraClip or edge‑to‑edge repair.
• Open-heart surgery, valve repair or replacement.
• Heart transplant in extreme cases.
• Regular echocardiograms and lifestyle changes.

When to Consult Your Cardiologist in Jaipur

Book an appointment with your cardiac doctor if you are constantly experiencing the following symptoms:

• Severe chest pain even after proper rest and taking medicine.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Fainting, severe lightheadedness, or dizziness.
• Irregular heartbeats.
• Unexplained swelling in the legs, feet, or belly.

Get expert advice by calling us at+91-9549158888

Eternal Hospital is the preferred hospital for a reason because of our accreditation and affiliations.

• Awarded the gold seal by JCI
• Affiliated with Mount Sinai Hospital
• Facilitated with ACC for excellence in heart care
• Accredited with NABH for strict adherence to quality
• Accredited with NABL for testing and calibration laboratories

Our Address: Eternal Hospital, 3 A Jagatpura Road, Near Jawahar Circle, Jaipur 302017

FAQs

Q1: What are examples of structural heart disease?
A: Here are the common examples:

• Valvular diseases (aortic stenosis, mitral regurgitation)
• Septal defects (holes in the heart)
• Cardiomyopathy and aortic aneurysms

Q2: Is structural heart disease curable?
A: They are generally not curable. Certain congenital septal defects can be fully corrected through surgery or catheter interventions. Others need lifetime management and monitoring to prevent progression.

Q3: How to prevent structural heart disease?
Congenital structural heart disease cannot be fully prevented.

The ones that are acquired later in life have no full proof way but can help support and protect your heart.

• Adopt a heart-healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and low in salt.
• Engage in heart-healthy exercise.
• Quick smoking and alcohol.
• Manage conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol through a doctor's advice.