Good News About Mitral Valve Prolapse
Though still a common and troublesome heart condition, mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is turning out to be less prevalent than doctors once believed.
Technology that uses sound waves now shows how well the heart valve is working. As a result, doctors can more accurately diagnose malfunctioning valves. So, while it seemed for a time that there was a high rate of MVP, the condition actually occurs in only about 2 to 3 percent of women and men.
The mitral valve separates two parts of the heart’s left side. MVP occurs when the valve’s flaps don’t close properly. Doctors don’t know the exact cause of MVP, but it seems to run in families.
Leaky Valve Can Cause Symptoms
The people most likely to have problems from MVP are those whose valve allows regurgitation, or the flow of blood back into the part of the heart from which it was just pushed out. Fortunately, in most people with MVP, the valve still is able to form a tight enough seal to prevent this.Most people with MVP lead healthy, active lives and may not even know they have it. Only a small number of those with the condition experience regurgitation, which can cause:
- Shortness of breath
- Heart palpitations
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Migraine headaches
Symptoms tend to worsen over time, but they can be treated with medication. Doctors may recommend surgery to repair or replace the valve in severe cases.
