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Mitral Valve Prolapse
WHAT YOU SHOULD
KNOW
The heart has 4 chambers in it. The upper chambers are
called atria (A-tree-uh) and the lower chambers are called
ventricles (VEN-trick-uls). When the heart ""beats,'' the atria
push blood into the ventricles and the ventricles push blood
out of the heart. Valves control the flow of blood
between the atria and ventricles. The mitral (MY-tral) valve
lies between the left atrium and the left ventricle. It is made
up of two small doors or leaflets that come from each side of
the valve and meet in the middle. Its job is to keep blood from
moving back into the left atrium. The valve opens to let blood
flow into the ventricle, It closes to keep blood in the
ventricle until it is pushed out into the circulatory system.
Mitral valve prolapse occurs when one or both of the
leaflets of the valve bulge backward into the atrium as the
ventricle is pushing blood out of the heart. This is not
normal. This movement may cause a clicking noise that
your doctor can hear while listening to the heart with a
stethoscope. Also, some of the blood from the ventricle may be
allowed back into the atrium, which causes a ""whooshing''
sound called a ""murmur.''
Signs/Symptoms
Most people with mitral valve prolapse do not have any
symptoms. If your valve gets worse you may feel tired, dizzy,
or faint; get headaches; have trouble breathing; or experience
chest pain or an irregular heartbeat. If these symptoms occur,
you should see your doctor.
Care
If you
do not have signs/symptoms, you don't have to change the
way you live. If you have a murmur, you may need to take
antibiotics before dental check-ups and avoid sports in which
you could be hurt. You should visit your doctor yearly or as
directed. If you
do have signs/symptoms, you may not be able to exercise
as much as before. You may also need medicine to control any
symptoms and tests to find out how serious the prolapse is. One
test is an echocardiogram (ek-oh-CARD-e-o-gram). This painless
test allows the valves to be seen while the heart is beating.
You may need surgery if the problems with the valve pose a real
danger.
WHAT YOU SHOULD
DO
-
If you are prescribed
medicine for this condition, be sure to take it as
directed. If you feel it is not helping, call your doctor.
Do not quit taking it on your own.
-
If you take aspirin
regularly, continue to take it. Aspirin helps thin the
blood so blood clots don't form. Do not take acetaminophen
or ibuprofen instead.
-
Remind your doctor or dentist
you have mitral valve prolapse. You may need to take an
antibiotic before dental cleanings and before some kinds of
surgery. These help kill any germs that may get into your
blood and cause an infection in the
valve.
-
A diet low in fat, salt, and
cholesterol is very important. It keeps your heart healthy
and strong. Ask your doctor for guidelines on what to eat.
It may take time getting used to a new diet. Special
cookbooks may help you and the cook in your family find new
recipes.
-
Quit smoking. It harms the
heart and lungs. If you are having trouble stopping, ask
your doctor for help.
-
If you have symptoms or a
murmur, you may need to avoid heavy exercise or competitive
sports. Ask your doctor about this. However, do exercise
daily. It helps make the heart stronger, lowers blood
pressure, and keeps you healthy. If your exercise plan
seems too hard or too easy, talk to your
doctor.
-
Weighing too much can make
the heart work harder. If you need to lose weight, ask your
doctor for a weight-loss program.
-
Wear your medic-alert
bracelet every day especially if you have symptoms from
your illness. Ask your doctor how to get
one.
-
For more information about
the heart, call the
American Heart Association at 1-800-AHA-USA1
(1-800-242-8721) or call your local
Red Cross.
Call Your Doctor
If...
-
You have chest pain during
exercise that doesn't go away with
rest.
-
You have new symptoms that
you did not have when you last saw the
doctor.
-
You have worse headaches, are
getting dizzier, or are more tired.
Seek Care Immediately
If...
-
You faint or have chest pain,
trouble breathing, or an irregular heartbeat. Call
911 or
0 (operator) to get to the nearest hospital or
clinic.
Do not drive yourself!
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