Diseases that weaken your cardiac valves can rob you of your energy and ability to perform daily activities. In addition, heart valve disease is the main cause of congestive heart failure, which can lead to disability and even death.

Here’s a rundown of the major causes of heart valve disease you may need to watch out for:

• Coronary artery disease or a heart attack can cause heart valve damage

• High blood pressure, which puts strain on the heart and its valves

• Congenital defects, which are heart valve abnormalities that occur before birth

• Infections such as rheumatic heart disease, which developed from strep infections. These used to be the major cause of heart valve problems. A rare, but serious infection called infective endocarditis can also damage heart valves

• Aging is still one of the greatest causes of heart valve problems

There are other rare causes of heart valve disease, including autoimmune diseases, such as lupus; radiation to the chest; and certain metabolic disorders, such as Fabry disease, which is a genetic disorder that leads to the buildup of a certain type of blood fat.

High cholesterol can also affect heart valves.