Valvular heart disease.

Given the high prevalence of valvular heart disease, primary care physicians need to be familiar with the most common valvular heart diseases and their clinical manifestations. Knowledge of the natural history of the most common valvular heart diseases is important because the onset of symptoms often is the point at which intervention becomes necessary. Most valvular heart diseases are amenable to surgical intervention, which can afford a symptom-free and relatively normal life span. Therefore, primary care physicians must be familiar with the indications for therapeutic interventions and the most appropriate interventions currently recommended.