What condition is suggested by a 75-year-old female presenting with a systolic murmur and dizziness?

The presentation of a 75-year-old female with a systolic murmur and dizziness strongly suggests aortic stenosis. This condition is characterized by the narrowing of the aortic valve opening, which impedes blood flow from the left ventricle into the aorta during systole. As a result, patients can experience symptoms such as exertional dyspnea, syncope, and dizziness due to reduced cardiac output and insufficient perfusion to vital organs.

In older adults, particularly those over 70, aortic stenosis is the most common cause of aortic valve disease and is often a result of age-related calcific degeneration of the valve. The diziness observed in this patient may indicate that her brain is not receiving enough oxygenated blood, a common occurrence in aortic stenosis due to the impaired ability of the heart to pump effectively during physical exertion or stressful situations.

The presence of a systolic murmur, often described as a "crescendo-decrescendo" pattern, is classic for aortic stenosis and helps in its identification during physical examination. In contrast, other listed conditions such as aortic regurgitation, mitral regurgitation, or mitral stenosis present with different murmurs and symptoms that may not