Mitral valve collapse is a common heart valve problem that causes blood to flow backward, known as mitral valve regurgitation. It can be caused by two malfunctions in the valve flaps and is diagnosed through listening to the heart or using an echocardiogram. Symptoms are often benign, but severe cases may require surgery or beta blockers. Endocarditis is a possible complication.
Mitral valve collapse is the most common heart valve problem, affecting between 4% and 18% of all people. Mitral valve collapse occurs when the valve between the heart’s left atrium and the left ventricle doesn’t close properly and allows blood to flow backward from the left ventricle into the left atrium. Backflow of blood is referred to as mitral valve regurgitation. The cause of mitral valve collapse is not known.
The heart is made up of four chambers, the left and right atria and the left and right ventricles. In the body, oxygen-starved blood enters the right atrium of the heart, passes through the tricuspid valve and into the right ventricle. The blood is then pushed from the right ventricle into the lungs, where it is oxygenated. The oxygen-rich blood returns to the heart through the left atrium, passes through the mitral valve into the left ventricle, and is then forced throughout the body. The mitral and tricuspid valves are essential to prevent blood from flowing back into the heart.
The mitral valve is made up of two flaps of tissue that block the opening between the left atrium and left ventricle like a watertight gate. There are two ways a mitral valve can malfunction: The valve obturators can be longer and thicker than necessary, preventing a tight seal; or the valve flaps may be brittle, stretching more than necessary and making a strong closure impossible.
Mitral valve collapse is initially diagnosed by listening to the heart with a stethoscope. A malfunctioning mitral valve will make a clicking sound as blood is shunted through it. Confirmation of mitral valve collapse is sometimes done using an echocardiogram or electrocardiogram. Sometimes a stress test will be ordered to ensure that mitral valve collapse does not interfere with exercise.
Most symptoms related to mitral valve collapse are benign. People often don’t even know they have a valve defect. Other times, the symptoms are more severe and obvious. These symptoms include heart palpitations or arrhythmias, severe mitral valve regurgitation, or heart infections known as endocarditis.
Mitral valve collapse sometimes causes arrhythmias or irregularly fast or slow heartbeats. When this problem is severe, it is treated with beta blockers. Beta-blockers are drugs that slow the heart rate by decreasing how hard the heart beats.
When mitral valve collapse causes severe regurgitation or backflow of blood within the heart, surgery may be needed to prevent complications or heart failure. The service will repair the existing valve or replace it. A malfunctioning mitral valve is repaired by reshaping or resizing the valve leaflets so that they close completely. When the valve cannot be repaired and needs to be removed, it can be replaced by a mechanical valve or a donated tissue valve.
Endocarditis is an infection of the endocardium, or membranous tissue that lines the heart. The backflow of blood that occurs with a malfunctioning mitral valve makes the heart more susceptible to infection. To prevent endocarditis, antibiotics are often prescribed before surgery and also before any dental procedures.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
