Mitral Valve Prolapse
Mitral valves that are normal each have two thin leaflets. These leaflets are found between the left atrium and ventricle on the left side. These valves are both hooked up to the inner wall of the left ventricle. There is a series of strings called chordae that they are hooked into. When the process works normally as it should, the blood is processed normally and allows for the oxygen in blood so that it can always fill the ventricle on the left. When you have MVP, the valve has a faulty process referred to as myxomatous degeneration. In this abnormal occurance, proteins known as collagen forms, and in turn will cause a thickness, and enlargement of the heart. As this process repeats itself, the leaflets will prolapse, and then the blood will leak out through the valve opening known as a regurgitation. If the problem is a severe one, this regurgitation can go into heart failure. This heart problem is very silent and goes unoticed by most people. If it is a severe form, there are a variety of symptoms that will show up. These are of the following: Fatigue Palpitations Migraine or severe headaches Chest pains or angina Most people complain of a tiredness when having a severe MVP problem. This is due to the oxygen delivery that is occuring. Irregular heartbeats or a heart that is beating too quickly is another common sign as in Atrial Fibrillation There are also chest pains involved with MVP that are not responsive to Nitroglycerin as angina is. There may be symptoms of a psychological nature that are connected with mitral valve prolapse. Depression is not uncommon and this is because of the imbalances within the nervous system. Headaches or migraine types of headaches are often associated with this medical condition. Since the nervous system is affected greatly by this condition, it creates a lot of stress inside the brain and the blood vessels which are related to it. It is rare that people may have stroke with MVP. This is because the blood clots quicker within the platelets. Diagnosis of MVP The cardiologist will examine the person by listening closely to the heart first with a stethoscope. If MVP is present, the doctor will hear a strange clicking sound. If there is another type of swishing sound after hearing a funny click, this signifies to the doctor, a murmur that is regurgitating. A test called an echocardiogram is done which tells the doctor about the proplapse and the degree of how advanced it is. The echocardiogram can also pick up on an infection called endocarditis which is an infection of heart valves. This is a complication that sometimes happens in mitral valve prolapse. Heart rates that are very quick or not in a regular pattern cause a palpitation. The best way to find out how irregular these heart patterns are is to wear a monitor that you carry around for 24 hours. There is a cassette inside that records the actions for your doctor to study after this period, and they can tell a lot about what is going on from that. Treatments for Mitral Valve Prolapse Many people have no treatment for mild cases, or take oral medications that regulate the heart's rhythm. In the severe category, those people eventually will need heart surgery which means a valve replacement. The people that actually have a stroke due to mitral valve prolapse, which is uncommon will often be treated with a blood thinner and also a drug which is termed a beta blocker. These drugs help keep the blood flow going through the heart properly, the blood pressure stabilized, and avoid the problems with clotting due to back-up of the blood flow.
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