Can anyone tell me how serious mitral valve prolapse is? with mild regurgitation?

Question

I had an echo done due to heart palpitations and I found out I have mitral valve prolapse with mild regurgitation . I am 36 years old. Is this serious? What precautions should I follow? Will I need a new valve? Please help I am so scared.

I have tried numerous times to ask my doctor but he blows me off and says not to worry. He is the only board certified md in my rural area.

Answer 1

I was also diagnosed with MVP at the same age. You need to see a Cardiologist to get your questions answered better with your own situation. I ended up with severe regurgitation within a short period of time after my mild regurge was found (months only), which is not the common. Yours may stay mild for a long time, but make sure to keep an eye on it. Keep this in mind: you can get the valve REPAIRED vs. Replacement if it is caught in time and no permanent damage done to the pathway from how the blood is ejected out through the valve. Don't let the doctors tell you to wait until you can only have it replaced. I had a repair done 2yrs ago and couldn't be happier (I actually went out-of-state to have the procedure done). Please do some research on the web regarding this if you ever get to that point. If you are not symptomatic at this point, you should be fine with the mild regurg. The only precaution I was given before my surgery, was to take an antibiotic before any dental work was done or any surgeries. Live your life, do things as normal, just pay attention to when things just don't feel right or you become symptomatic and see your doctor (one that will listen). Hopefully you can find a good cardiologist, it took me 3 tries before I found the one I have now. Good Luck.

Answer 2

First of all, you need to talk to your doctor. They can certainly answer your questions better than anyone here.

But, I can tell you that your condition can actually be very mild. I have a family member with the same thing and he leads a very normal life and will not need a valve replacement. If he engages in very physical activity (such as playing football), he does get tired easily, but other than that, he's fine.

In case they didn't explain it to you (it sounds as though they weren't very informative) here goes: Your mitral valve is like a little door that opens and closes in your heart. When you have a mitral vavle prolapse, what that means is that when that valve swings shut, it closes and actually swings IN a little bit too far. (Ever seen a swinging door? Same principle) This causes a little bit of a leak.

It's something that will need to be checked every few years throughout your life, to ensure that it doesn't get worse.

Contact your doctor and ask him or her these questions, just to be on the safe side.

Answer 3

I have to ask why you are not asking your doctor these questions, because that is why you are paying him/her?
That said, mitral valve prolapse can be very serious or not serious at all. It depends on whether or not you are having symptoms which are affecting your well-being.
You may end up being put on anticoagulant therapy, to reduce the risk of developing blood clots. It is also possible that valve replacement surgery may be a good idea for you. Since you have reached 36 years without any problems up until now, it is likely that your valve issue is not that serious.
Still, talk to your doctor about your questions and concerns, they know you better than some anonymous idiot on the internet, and they have your test results to consult.

Answer 4

I have the same thing. Found out a year ago and I'm 29. I have echo's done once a year to keep an eye on it. There are certain medicines that cause palpatations to happen more frequently. Like Allegra. It's a hereditary thing and you've probably had it your whole life. You shouldn't smoke though. I do and get yelled at all the time for it. But I'm a giant b-word when I try to quit. Really! But it won't kill you or anything like that. It's more annoying than anything cause stress and some medicines cause palpatations. Besides all that you'll be fine and just make sure your doctor's know about it and any time you have to fill out med. history anywhere.

Answer 5

!. source is Web MD. has different links to explain different aspects of the heart problem

2. Mayo Clinic source:Introduction
Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a disorder that affects one of your heart's valves — the mitral valve. It occurs when the valve doesn't close correctly, allowing backward leaking of blood in your heart.

Mitral valve prolapse affects slightly more than 2 percent of the adult population in the United States. Men and women appear to develop MVP in similar numbers.

In most people, MVP is harmless and doesn't require any changes in lifestyle. It also doesn't shorten your life expectancy. In some people with MVP, however, the progression of the disease requires treatment.

This site also has many other part and links to explain


3. This site is awesome.
Mitral Valve Prolapse (Patient Education Institute) -

Requires Flash Player

Answer 6

I am 52 and I was diagnosed with it when I was 30. I didn't even know I had it. It was found during a routine check-up by my employer. I was running long distance at the time, and continued for several more years with no problems. It shows up everytime I have a physical, but it has never been a problem. The last doctor I talked to said surgery may become necessary in my later years, but for now everything is OK.

Answer 7

First, why don't you ask YOUR DOCTOR! He or she is the best source of information. Also, there are COUNTLESS web sites on the subject so I suggest you Google. Your level of MVP is apparently mild, and this is VERY COMMON. It is more common in women than men, expecially taller, slender women, but it can occur in anyone. No, you should not need valve replacement (again, didn't your doctor tell you this, or did you bother to ask?). With that being said, start your Google search and I assure you that you will find out more information than you ever thought possible. Asking a bunch of people on Yahoo is fine but dear, you will get so much MIS-information it isn't funny. Many have never even heard of MVP. Google now!

Answer 8

I am 42 and had a mitro valve prolapse with serve regurgation. It is scary and i know what your going through, i had to have mine replace i have a st. jude. I started out with mild reg. about 10 years ago and my doctor told me not to worry about it, but it went to serve, i started having diffuclty breathing and got tired alot. when they went in to replace the valve they found that i have atriliafib which is a rapid heart beat so they put in a defib. its been 3years since my surgery, im still scared that something is going to go wrong. but i pray every day. Just keep getting your echo's every 6 months to make sure it hasnt gotten any worse.

Answer 9

It is of pretty serious concern, however, it can be taken care of without surgery sometimes. There are several medications that can help. I think you should go to the internet and search out a good cardiologist nearest you. Tell them your concerns and let them tell you how bad it really is. they are specialists in this field, and they can reassure you its not to bad, or put you on the right track for getting it better.

Answer 10

Find a good cardiologist at a major medical center that specialzies in heart care
This is not the site to ask for advice--