The heart is a specialized muscle that delivers the power to circulate the blood throughout the body. Comprised of four chambers and a series of valves, it is in constant operation and maintaining a healthy heart is the responsibility of its owner. Damaged heart valves can be the result of a poor diet, lack of exercise, the use of tobacco and an excessive intake of alcohol.How Heart Valves Can Become DamagedIf the arteries that supply the heart with blood become constricted or narrowed, the flow of blood to this organ is decreased. Over time some of the muscle tissue will begin to degenerate as the cells cannot reproduce as efficiently as before. This puts extra pressure on the heart valves, which themselves can slowly change their shape, becoming narrowed or stenosed, and are sometimes perforated. When the valves are not opening and closing properly the blood flow to the lungs and the rest of the body is affected to a significant degree.Repairing A Heart ValveOften an exploratory surgery is necessary to determine if a damaged heart valve can be repaired through a tailoring process. Stenosed heart valves may have to be cut to relieve their stiffness and make the opening to the heart chamber larger. A valve that has become tightened often will not close properly because of excess tissue that must be cut away. Since some valves open to the ventricles of the heart while others open to the aorta and pulmonary artery, the direction of blood flow and the shape of the individual valve determines whether this type of surgery is the best option.Replacement Of A Heart ValveThis can be a complicated procedure due to the shape of certain heart valves and the extent of the damage. Replacing a heart valve often involves the insertion of a prosthetic substitute, a mechanical device that functions the same way as the original tissue. After this procedure is performed the patient is usually put on a permanent prescription medication that helps to prevent clotting around the mechanical valve. Another option is the use of animal tissue, usually from a cow or pig, which is sewn in to the linings where the original valve was located. In this procedure, the medication therapy is often not required, but these valves have a shorter lifespan and may themselves have to be replaced.Prevention of damage to heart valves means a healthy diet that is low in sodium, saturated fats and LDL cholesterol. Strengthening the heart muscle through daily exercise is the best way to keep this muscle organ functioning properly, and regular checkups to determine if there are any problems is highly recommended.