Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP)

The main function of Mitral Valve is to allow the flow of the blood in one particular direction. The blood normally starts to flow from the upper chamber or atrium towards the lower chamber or ventricle. However, when this valve stops to function properly, it triggers serious cardiac problems amongst humans. Improper functionality causes the backward flow of blood, which results into a condition known as ‘heart murmur’ or Mitral Valve Prolapse.

Compared to men, women are known to suffer more from Mitral Valve Prolapse. This is a heart condition, which mostly strikes during early days of adulthood. Generally, this type of cardiac syndrome is regarded as a genetic problem. There are certain natural cares that are known to be extremely successful in curing Mitral Valve Prolapse conditions.

Magnesium is one of the most important mineral, which can provide the cure for Mitral Valve Prolapse disorder effectively. Magnesium is available in diverse forms, but the most excellent options are magnesium orotate and glycinate. Studies have found that people suffering from Mitral Valve Prolapse condition, generally, have magnesium deficiency in their body. It has also been found that intake of magnesium supplements, for a stretch of five weeks, can cure Mitral Valve Prolapse patients. They can also effectively reduce its side effects, such as palpitation, weakness and anxiety.

Another natural remedy, which is found to treat Mitral Valve Prolapse disorder successfully, is Coenzyme Q10. This is normally produced inside the heart cells. However, with increasing age, there is a decrease in the production of Coenzyme Q10. Lower levels of Coenzyme Q10 can cause the heart muscle to stiffen. Adequate amount of Coenzyme Q10 will lower symptoms like chest pain, fatigue and irregular heartbeat.

Omega-3 fatty acids are also known to cure Mitral Valve Prolapse. For proper functioning of the heart, people need to avoid having hydrogenated fats and oil. They need to increase their intake of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are normally found in different kinds of fish.

Mitral valve replacement is a cardiac surgery procedure in which a patient’s mitral valve is replaced by a different valve. Mitral valve replacement is typically performed robotically or manually. It is done for the treatment of mitral valve prolapse stenosis and mitral valve regurgitation. Stenosis is the tightening of the Mitral valve while Regurgitation is the leakage of the mitral valve.

Robotic surgery is done by using robots in the operating room to assist the surgeon in performing surgery. The surgeon views the patient via a terminal and manipulates robotic surgical instruments via a control panel. Views of the organs being worked on are transmitted from tiny cameras inserted into the body.

Mitral valve replacement is an open heart surgical procedure, it requires placing the patient on cardiopulmonary bypass to stop blood flow through the heart when it is opened up.

Mitral valves can be repaired if the leak is due to wear and tear. But if the valve is too damaged to repair, the valve must be replaced with an artificial valve. There are some advantages to repairing a mitral valve versus replacing it. Some of these advantages are: a lower mortality at the time of operation (1-2% for repair versus 6-8% for replacement), a significantly lower risk of stroke, a lower rate of endocardial infection, and improved long-term survival. Patients who receive a valve repair stay on the same survival curve as the normal population. After mitral valve repair, blood thinners are not required; however, life-long maintenance on blood thinners is required after mechanical mitral valve replacement.

Non-surgical approaches to treat heart valve disease without surgery are divided into three categories which are Clinical Practice treatment, Investigational treatment and Early Development treatment.
There are two primary types of artificial mitral valves — a metal or mechanical valve and a tissue valve or biological valve. The mechanical valves are made entirely from metal and pyrolytic carbon and last a lifetime. With this valve, patients are required to take blood-thinning medications to prevent clotting. The tissue valve is made from animal tissues. The tissue valve doesn’t require a patient to take blood thinners, but it only lasts 10 to 15 years. The choice depends upon the patient’s age, medical condition, preferences with medication and lifestyle.

A mitral valve replacement procedure is performed under general anesthesia, which will keep the patient asleep during the whole surgery. The preferred method is to first make an incision under the left breast rather than through the breastbone in the front of the chest, to get to the heart. After the heart is exposed, blood must be rerouted to a heart-lung machine (cardiopulmonary bypass). An incision is made in the left atrium to expose the mitral valve. The valve is then replaced with either a biological or mechanical valve. Then after the functioning of the new valve is tested and confirmed, the heart is then closed with sutures. The patient is then taken off the cardiopulmonary bypass and blood is allowed to flow into the coronary arteries. If the heart does not beat on its own, an electric shock is used to start it. Then the chest is closed up.

Risks of mitral valve replacement are bleeding, infection, or a complicated reaction to anesthesia.Risks depend on a patient’s age, general condition, specific medical conditions, and heart function.

A view of the success rate of mitral valve replacement is shown. Overall mortality was 4%, which included 3 operative deaths and 4 late deaths. Overall 5-year survival rate was 92% from January 1990 to June 1996.
A respirator may be required for the first few hours or days after surgery. After a day, the patient should be able to sit up in bed. After two days, the patient may be taken out of the intensive care unit. Patients are usually discharged after about seven to ten days.Patients who have biological valve are prescribed blood thinners (Anticoagulation) with Coumadin for 6 weeks to 3 months postoperative, while patients with mechanical valves are prescribed blood thinners for the rest of their lives. Once a person has a mitral valve procedure, they are required to have prophylactic antibiotics as a preventative measure against infection whenever they have dental work done. Depending on the method of surgery, some scarring will occur. If the breastbone is divided, the patient will have a long scar along the breast bone. If the heart is accessed from under the left breast there will be a smaller scar in the spot.

Mitral valve repair surgery is typically done when the valve itself is not closing all the way. When the valve fails to close it is easy for blood to back up or regurgitate. When this happens, it prevents enough blood from passing through the valve which forces the heart to work harder. Mitral valve repair surgery will be recommended by your doctor only after other types of therapy have been administered. For example, the doctor may try to use prescription medications to thin the blood or strengthen the valve itself. If this does not work then the only option left will be surgery. This type of surgery is performed around the world on a daily basis. It is considered open heart surgery and usually lasts between 3 and 5 hours.

Mitral Valve Repair Surgery and Procedures

* During mitral valve repair surgery the doctor will make a large incision on the chest once the patient is under anesthesia. The patient is then placed on a heart and lung machine so that the blood can circulate outside of the body. This is done to protect the heart muscle from being damaged during the surgery. In addition, the heart may either be slowed down or stopped during the surgery as to make the surgery easy to complete.

* The mitral valve may be reshaped during the surgery in an effort to get it back functioning as efficiently as possible. Reshaping the mitral valve can consist of removing excess valve tissue. Removing the excess tissue that could have been caused by scarring will allow the mitral valve to go back to working at a normal pace.

* Adding support to the valve will help to repair a damaged mitral valve. The concept is that adding support will give the valve the strength it needs to function effectively. The form of support will most often come in the shape of a ring. The ring is inserted around the base of the valve to give the valve a little more support. If a collar is not used then the surgeon will add extra tissue to the valve itself. Bulking the valve up with extra tissue will help it become stronger and more effective.

* During mitral valve repair surgery a common tactic that the surgeon may use can involve attaching the nearby heart tissue cords. Attaching the valve to these cords will help the give extra strength to the valve.

How is mitral valve prolapse treated?

In most cases the mitral valve prolapse is diagnosed but there are no restrictions placed on the patient since in most situations the patient has no underlying heart disease outside of this condition. However, it is often on a case by case basis where the doctor will make recommendations to the patient so that they will keep from experiencing the symptoms. In most cases it is the symptoms that are treated, not the cause.

A few things you should know:

Activity restrictions are not typically placed on patients. However, it is often recommended that the patient avoids any physical sports activities. This is especially the case if there is any click or murmur due to a significant problem with the mitral valve. Most people have a minimal condition.

There are typically no restrictions on diet since the condition is not specifically related to the patients diet. However, it is always encouraged to eat healthy so that other heart conditions do not bring on other medical problems.

If there are any heart irregularities, the patient should avoid alcohol, caffeine, and any other form of stimulant intake.

In many cases dehydration can provoke symptoms from mitral valve prolapse to arise. It is encouraged that any person with the condition keep hydrated at all times.

If the patient with mitral valve prolapse is pregnant, they should let their obstetrician know of their condition.

The vast majority of women with mitral valve prolapse require no specific restrictions outside of typical ones related to pregnancy.

Many women will need antibiotics if they have mitral valve prolapse (or a heart murmur of mitral insufficiency) if they require a catheter during delivery of their baby.

I have been diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse, do I need surgery?

In the vast majority of cases doctors do not want to and will not recommend doing any form of heart surgery to repair mitral valve. Only in severe conditions where it is preventing the person from living a normal life will surgery be recommended. In the last ten years there has been very good improvements in medical technology. Studies have indicated that is best to leave surgery as a last option and to treat the symptoms that you having from the mitral valve prolapse. Surgery may be considered if your symptoms are worsening or the backing of the blood into the left atrium is bad enough where it could potentially cause heart failure. This is a rare condition of mitral valve prolapse.

How often should I see a doctor about my mitral valve prolapse?

For the vast majority of people it mitral valve prolapse only shows symptoms during stressful periods in life. Once the stress is removed, their life quality returns to normal. It is still recommended though to see your doctor once every two to three years to ensure that the mitral valve prolapse condition has not worsened.

Symptoms for Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP)

There is some good news when it comes to mitral valve prolapse. Even though so many people are diagnosed with the condition, only about 60% of the people that actually have the condition ever experience any type of symptoms with it. Generally people who are diagnosed with mitral valve proplapse will only see symptoms occur when a stressful situation arises. For example, many women with mitral valve prolapse will only see symptoms during pregnancy. Others may experience it during job changes or during a viral illness. Below are the most common symptoms with this problem.

Irregular Heartbeat or Palpitations

Generally the most common way of determining it being the mitral valve prolapse is if you experience this symptom while lying on your left side.

Chest Pain

The downside to simply saying chest pain is that many people experience different forms of chest pain. Sometimes it be a consistent dull pain, other times it is sharp pain over and over again. Other times it might simply be a pressure you feel inside of your chest.

Fatigue

Do you get tired getting up and going to the restroom? Often times people who are diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse experience severe fatigue and weakness. It often makes you tired even with little or virtually no physical exercise at all.

Dizziness

Many people with mitral valve prolapse have issues with dizzy spells. It is often unrelated to standing up quickly, but simply sitting watching tv and unexpectedly having a dizzy spell where you feel extremely dizzy.

Light-headedness

Many people who are diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse also experience the light-headed feeling nearly anytime they stand up from a chair or a bed.

Irregular Shortness of Breath

Irregular meaning that with little physical exercise you have a problem catching your breath. Typically the shortness of breath is more severe than simply being out of shape.

Low Energy

Mitral valve prolapse is often misdiagnosed as chronic fatigue syndrome because many of the symptoms are similar. However, the culprit of mitral valve prolapse is very different from that of chronic fatigue syndrome. If you have been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome but do not appear to be getting any better, perhaps you should see a cardiologist to ensure that you were not misdiagnosed.

Since so many people who have autonomic nervous system problems are also diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse, you should also determine if you have any of the following problems (symptoms of dysautonomia (autonomic nervous system disorder).

- Panic Attacks
- Anxiety
- Fatigue
- Migraine Headaches
- Irritable Bowel
- Depression

The shocking statistic is that nearly 70% of people diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse as well as dysautonomia have some form of depression. If you have problems with large crowds or have any form of social disorders along with the other symptoms described above related directly to mitral valve prolapse then you should see your cardiologist or a neurologist to see if you have either dysautonomia or mitral valve prolapse (if not both).

When Should I Seek Medical Care for Mitral Valve Prolapse?

If have continuously been having symptoms that describe mitral valve prolapse you should contact your health care provider. This is particularly the case if you are experiencing chest pains and are feeling light-headed on a regular basis.

If you have already been diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse, you should contact your doctor if symptoms are getting worse. As well, if you begin to experience any more severe symptoms to the mitral valve prolapse such as your legs swelling or your shortness of breath worsens. This typically means that the blood flow is leaking back into your left atrium severly and it may require more work than what you are currently getting done.

Always contact your doctor if you experience the following:

- If you see signs of heart failure appearing or if the symptoms worsen.
- If symptoms of mitral valve prolapse described above get worse than they were when you last saw your doctor.
- If chest pains you are experiencing will not go away.

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) has numerous names. A few of the common ones are floppy mitral valve syndrome, click-murmur syndrome, or you may even hear it called Barlow syndrome which Barlow comes from the name of the doctor who was first responsible for diagnosing this problem.

The heart has four valves, one being the mitral valve. The purpose of the mitral valve is to give the proper amount of blood to the left ventricle and the left atrium. Inside of the mitral valve there are two flaps, often referred to as “leaflets”.

The problem that occurs in mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is that one or both of these leaflets are slightly enlarged. The result is that as the valve is pushing blood into the proper areas from the heart, the leaflets expand back causes and uneven closure much like a parachute would. The result is that a small amount of blood is sent back from the ventricle back into the atrium.

The good news is that the valve still works and heart typically still pumps as it normally would. As well, most people diagnosed should not see any damage created to the heart over time as a result of the backing of the blood. Generally, 2% of the people diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse ever have structural heart problems as a direct result.

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is commonly accepted as the most common heart abnormality in the world. It was originally thought to have up to 5-20% of the world’s population that has this condition. However, now with more research being done on mitral valve prolapse, it is thought to be 2-3%. This is still a very big percentage of the world’s population. Most people diagnosed with this problem are between 20 and 40 years old.

What causes mitral valve prolapse (MVP)?

The vast majority people diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse are unsure of how or when the problem ever started.

Inherit – It is not uncommon for people who have mitral valve prolapse to see a history of it within their family. This is particularly the case with families that often have connective tissue disorders such as Marfan’s syndrome. This is a condition that would affect people who have abnormally long limbs, bulging in the aorta (the large artery from the heart), and loose joints.

Nervous System Problems – People who tend to have problems with their nervous system also are frequently diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse. Unsure of what the connection is, it is typically up to 40% of those diagnosed with MVP that also have issues with the autonomic part of their nervous sytem. This part is what control the involuntary functions such as heart beats and breathing.

Mitral valve leakage is when the valve is not functioning properly and letting blood regurgitate back into the heart. The main function of the mitral valve is to let blood floe from the upper chamber to the lower chamber on the left side of the heart. When the mitral valve does not close all the way the end result will be mitral valve leakage. Small leaks are typically not a problem but when they are not taken care of they can cause heart failure over time.

Causes of Mitral Valve Leakage

* Chronic mitral valve leakage is the most common form of this condition. It occurs slowly over time and is usually due to old age. However, there are some factors that can help to accelerate the development of chronic mitral valve leakage. These factors include things such as calcium buildups in the heart and rheumatic fever.

* Acute mitral valve leakage is the less common of the two forms of this condition. This form develops quickly without any warning signs. Acute mitral valve leakage occurs when the valve ruptures suddenly. Blood builds up very rapidly in the left side of the heart without the heart having a chance to adjust. A heart attack or heart infection most often cause this form of mitral valve leakage.