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After surgery, you'll be taken to a recovery area. Later, you may be moved to a regular hospital room where you'll stay for 1 or 2 days.

You'll start feeling back to normal a day or 2 after getting home. But don't forget that you just had surgery. Here is information to speed your recovery.

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.

A problem with a heart valve will usually cause the heart to make a noise. Your doctor can hear this noise, called a murmur. But you can have a heart murmur and not have valve disease or any other heart problem. Other tests can help confirm the diagnosis of valve disease.

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.

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.

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.

Mitral insufficiency means your mitral valve has problems closing, letting blood leak back through the valve. Mild cases of mitral insufficiency, when a small amount of blood leaks, rarely lead to problems. But severe cases can cause damage to the ventricle and heart muscle.

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.