Mitral valve prolapse
Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a condition where the mitral valve in the heart does not close properly, leading to potential leakage of blood back into the left atrium. This condition, also known as mitral valve insufficiency prolapse, is the most common cardiac syndrome and often affects young adult women. Common causes of MVP include rheumatic fever, inflammation of the heart lining (endocarditis), cardiac tumors, and genetic factors. Symptoms may include undue fatigue after exercise, shortness of breath, and chest pain, with some individuals experiencing anxiety and depression related to stress.
The condition is frequently diagnosed through echocardiograms, which provide images of the heart’s structure and function. While the number of diagnosed cases is rising, this may be attributed to improved diagnostic techniques rather than an actual increase in prevalence. Most individuals with mitral valve prolapse lead normal lives and may not realize they have the condition. Management typically involves regular exercise and healthy eating, with surgical treatment reserved for severe cases. Overall, MVP is generally considered a mild condition, with serious complications being rare.
Mitral valve prolapse
ANATOMY OR SYSTEM AFFECTED: Circulatory system, heart
DEFINITION: The inability of the mitral valve in the heart to close properly
CAUSES: Rheumatic fever, inflammation of heart lining (endocarditis), cardiac tumors, genetic error
SYMPTOMS: Undue fatigue after exercise, shortness of breath, chest pain
DURATION: Chronic
TREATMENTS: Regular exercise; good eating habits; occasionally, surgery
Causes and Symptoms
The mitral valve connects the heart’s left ventricle and left atrium. The oxygenated blood, having already passed through the right heart chambers and the lungs, arrives in the left atrium through the pulmonary veins and then passes through the mitral valve into the left ventricle. Compression of the left ventricle pumps the blood into the aorta and on to the rest of the body. A properly functioning mitral valve closes and prevents regurgitation or backflow into the left atrium. Mitral valve prolapse occurs when the two leaves of the mitral valve close imperfectly, allowing leakage. This condition, known also as mitral valve insufficiency prolapse, is the most common cardiac syndrome. Found in all segments of society, it is most common in young adult women.
Mitral valve prolapse has several possible causes including rheumatic fever, inflammation of the heart lining (endocarditis), cardiac tumors, or most often, genetic error. Its symptoms are undue fatigue after exercise, shortness of breath, and chest pain. Other common complaints are anxiety, depression, and panic, all related to stress. The number of diagnosed cases in Western countries is rising markedly and may be the result of more sophisticated diagnostic techniques or the increasing stress in modern society.
Perspective and Prospects
Until the 1960s, the detection of mitral valve prolapse was through a characteristic “click” heard by the physician when the mitral leaves attempted to close. Now the use of echocardiograms, allowing ultrasound images of the beating heart and blood flow, is standard practice.
People with mitral valve prolapse lead a normal life, and many are unaware that they have the condition. Repeated irregularity in breathing or an inexplicable shortness of breath is a sign to see one’s physician. Regular exercise and good eating habits are recommended for this mild condition. Only in severe cases is mitral valve prolapse treated surgically or considered life-threatening.
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