What is mitral valve prolapse?
It is a condition where the heart’s one or both mitral valve bulges into the left atrium during the contraction of the heart. This condition is a type of myxomatous valve disease.
Furthermore, the condition may also cause blood to leak backward into the left atrium. Mitral valve prolapse affects around 3 per cent of the population globally. This condition isn’t life-threatening and doesn’t require treatment unless serious.
Causes of Mitral Valve Prolapse
Researchers are still unclear about the cause of mitral valve prolapse. Some believe that it is linked to heredity. Behaviours and lifestyle factors aren’t linked with the condition. But some factors can weaken or wear down the mitral valve due to loss of elasticity in the arteries.
The factors can include:
-
Stress
-
High blood pressure
-
High Cholesterol
-
Smoking
Some people diagnose the condition at the time of birth, or sometimes it runs on families. Mitral valve prolapse is related to connective tissue disorders and inherited disorders such as muscular dystrophy, Marfan syndrome, etc.
What are the symptoms of mitral valve prolapse?
Sometimes, the condition may not trigger any symptoms. The symptoms can be different among individuals. Some of the common symptoms include:
Palpitations
Most of the patients with mitral valve prolapse experience palpitations. This condition is associated with premature ventricular contractions. In some cases, the patient may not experience irregular heart rhythm.
Chest Pain
It is also a symptom of mitral valve prolapse. But, chest pain is different from a coronary heart ailment. People with the condition frequently experience chest pain.
Other symptoms include breathing shortness, fatigue, and weakness. These symptoms can occur if the person’s left atrium or left ventricle are enlarging due to a leak in the left atrium. Sometimes, these symptoms may indicate other health issues.
You can consult a cardiology in Dubai at Asters Hospitals, one of the best hospitals in Dubai.
Diagnosis
Doctors usually diagnose the mitral valve prolapse during a regular body check-up. The disease is confirmed if the doctor hears a click-murmur sound during the check-up.
Other tests include:
-
MRI
-
Echocardiography
-
Transesophageal echocardiography
-
Cardiac Catheterization
-
Radionuclide scans
Treatment
Treatment isn’t required for most people as the condition doesn’t cause any problem. Surgery or heart valve replacement may be needed for people with severe symptoms.
If the doctor doesn’t find any mitral regurgitation on the echocardiogram, people can just follow these steps to recover:
-
Use of pain relievers
-
Exercise
-
Exercises for stress reduction and relaxation
-
Avoid caffeine-based stimulant
Beta-blockers may be useful for people in people who have episodes of palpitations with a condition known as tachycardia.
Aster Hospitals have a good team of cardiac surgery specialists in Dubai.
There is no prevention for mitral valve prolapse because the cause is till unknown. You can jeep your heart healthy in general by:
-
Eating a balanced diet
-
Becoming proactive
-
Maintaining a good BMI
-
Quit smoking
-
Monitoring cholesterol and blood pressure
-
Not taking stress
-
Walking regularly
-
Maintaining the body’s hydration level
-
Playing sports
