Have you been diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse? If so, you may be worried about the long term consequences of having a prolapsing mitral valve and fear that you could eventually develop serious heart problems. In most cases, if you have mitral valve prolapse, these fears are unfounded. This is a very common condition affecting up to ten percent of the population with a greater percentage of women affected than men. What exactly is a prolapsing mitral valve and what can you do about it?

What is a Prolapsing Mitral Valve?

Mitral valve prolapse is a common condition where the mitral valve on the left side of your heart doesn’t close completely, allowing small amounts of blood to leak backwards from the larger chamber, the ventricle, to the smaller one, the atrium. This can usually be detected by listening to the heart in a quiet room with a stethoscope. In many cases, a certain type of murmur and, often, a characteristic click can be heard. The diagnosis of prolapsing mitral valve can then be confirmed by an echocardiogram.

If You Have Mitral Valve Prolapse, What Does It Mean?

The good news is that the diagnosis of a prolapsing mitral valve doesn’t mean you’re destined to have heart problems. In fact, more than ninety-five percent of people with this condition report no serious symptoms at all. A small percentage of people will experience dizziness, fatigue, palpitations, emotional disturbances, or chest pain. In these cases, it may be found that larger amounts of blood are leaking backwards into the atrium of the heart which may require treatment with medications, or, in rare cases surgery. People with mitral valve prolapse are also at higher risk of developing a bacterial infection of the heart valve, known as endocarditis. If you have a prolapsing mitral valve, it’s important to let your dentist know before a dental procedure as antibiotics may be necessary to reduce the risk of a potentially life threatening heart valve infection.

If You Have Mitral Valve Prolapse, How Should You Alter Your Life?

In most cases if you have mitral valve prolapse, no lifestyle changes are necessary, although it’s important to have your condition followed by a doctor every few years to make sure no changes have occurred. In most situations, no changes will have occurred and you’ll be free to carry out your normal activities.

The bottom line?

Mitral valve prolapse is a very common condition that usually requires no treatment and has an excellent prognosis. Be sure to discuss your particular situation with your doctor.