Mitral Regurgitation

Question: mitral regurgitation? Hey everyone i have mitral regurgitation, some of the symptoms include fatigue and shortness of breath. would this prevent me from taking sports to the next level as in pro or no. also its mild according to the cardiologist and im in very good shape, im just worried aboutt his and i have frequent palpitations, which feels very uncomfortable. Im planning to pursue it to the nba.

Answer: It depends what causes it. I had it twice, and recovered both times to where I do not feel any shortness of breath and can exercise very hard. First time it was caused by an infection. A virus the doctor suspects entered through the mouth went to the heart, and the leaflets of the valve became swollen, allowing blood to pass through. Prior to the infection, I could walk double stepping 54 floors of stairs without getting tired. I was out of breath with a little pain in 4 floors with it. Second time, I strained some tiny muscles or ligaments that pull the valve closed. That was worse. I could hardly walk without being out of breath. What I did was back-off from almost any exercise for about three to four months, then very slowly start back at cardio rehab. The four months will cost you about 3-4% a week in lost fitness, but you can regain it over the following year. If you don't let it rest and heal, and recover, it won't be able to heal, and definitely will not improve. It could get worse from more high end exercise. A big key for me in physical rehab was to never exercise so I was out of breath. I also used a heart rate monitor so I could see my heart was tiring (rate going up) before I could feel it tired. Always warmup slowly before you exercise, a good 10 minutes, and take 5 minutes afterwards to cooldown slowly. If you have not been doing this, that may be how you aggravated the valve in the first place. I don't know if you'll find many other current or former high end athletes with MR. But I am one, and I recovered.

Question: Can trace Mitral Valve Regurgitation cause shortness of breath and palpitations? I've had a murmur since I was young and was a bit more recently told I have trace Mitral Valve Regurgitation. Today I've been having shortness of breath and some palpitations. These are symptoms of severe regurgitation and heart failure. Is it possible that one can still experience some of these without having a severe condition? Should I see a Dr.?

Answer: mitral valve regurgitation can cause some palpitations and maybe some shortness of breath. However, anxiety can also cause these same things. If you are young and in good health and have had an EKG ruling out any cardiac abnormality, I wouldn't be too worried about having heart failure. however, only you know your own body, so if you are worried, it never hurts to see your doctor.

Question: Does anyone know if mitral aortic regurgitation is hereditary? I have a sister and niece that both have been diagnosised with mitral aortic regurgitation and I am wondering if anyone knows if it is hereditary??

Answer: Valvular heart disease can be hereditary. BTW, the mitral and aortic valves are two different things.

Question: Mitral valve regurgitation and hypertension? Is it true that (untreated) hypertension can cause mitral valve regurgitation? How? Is that a common cause for mitral regurgitation or not?

Answer: It is probably true that high blood pressure can cause regurgitation of any valve, because the higher your blood pressure, the more the force is acting on the valves when they pump, causing a higher risk of blood leakage and regurgitation back into the previous chamber. I dont know if it is a common cause, but it certainly seems plausible and my cardiologist is always monitoring my bp and i have some mild aortic valve regurgitation. Talk to your doctor.

Question: Is surgery needed to correct my mitral valve regurgitation if I keep getting symptoms? I've had Mitral Valve Prolapse since I'm 14 and I think it's also the one with mitral valve regurgitation. I used to experience severe anxiety, panic attacks, chest pain, etc. at that time and now at 37, continue to have depression, anxiety (now I'm taking an antidepressant), fatigue, palpitations but don't know if it's directly from mitral valve. I've read that my symptoms are all related to mitral valve regurgitaton but I'm not sure. My dr. ordered an echocardiogram yesterday and it was confirmed for mitral valve prolapse/regurgitation (not sure if its mild, moderate or severe). Does this mean I will need surgery and will my symptoms go away if I do?

Answer: MIld mitral regurgitation is unlikely to cause the symptoms. So if there are symptoms with mild mitral regurgitation, the cause is different.

Question: Can anyone tell me more information about Mitral Regurgitation? I haven't been able to find much info on the internet. Was anyone else diagnosed with Mitral Regurgitation? Any symptoms or experiences ... please share. Thanks

Answer: http://www.cardiologychannel.com/mitralr…

Question: Is it serious when you are diagnosed with mitral regurgitation and tricuspid regurgitation together? I had a blackout and my MD was trying to find the problem. I also had an MRI that showed calcified placques on the brain. I otherwise feel ok other than some nausea and dizziness.

Answer: justme - It is difficult to answer your question without more information. The mitral valve and the tricuspid valve are the two valves in your heart that prevent blood from squirting backwards every time your heart beats. Almost everybody has at least a tiny little jet of blood that leaks backwards through these valves, and that is what we call valvular regurgitation. Whether this is serious or not depends on HOW MUCH regurgitation there is. If there is what we call "trace" mitral and tricuspid regurgitation, then it is completely normal. If there is what we call "severe" mitral and tricuspid regurgitation at the same time, that is something that requires evaluation by a cardiologist. It is possible for mitral regurgitation to present with a blackout, but unless the regurgitation is very severe, I doubt the two are related in your case. I urge you to have your doctor explain the findings of the echocardiogram in detail.

Question: Is mitral regurgitation and mitral valve prolapse the same thing?

Answer: Is mitral regurgitation and mitral valve prolapse the same thing? NO Mitral valve regurgitation — or mitral regurgitation — is a condition in which your heart's mitral valve doesn't close tightly, which allows blood to flow backward in your heart. Mitral valve regurgitation is also called mitral insufficiency, or mitral incompetence. When the mitral valve doesn't function properly, blood can't move through your heart or to the rest of your body as efficiently. The condition can leave you fatigued and short of breath. As many as one in five people over age 55 has some degree of mitral valve regurgitation. Treatment of mitral valve regurgitation depends on the severity and progression of your condition and signs and symptoms. For mild cases, treatment may not be necessary. You may need heart surgery to repair or replace the valve for more severe cases. Left unchecked, severe mitral valve regurgitation can lead to heart failure or serious heart rhythm irregularities (arrhythmias). Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a common heart disorder. It occurs when the valve between your heart's left upper chamber (left atrium) and the left lower chamber (left ventricle) doesn't close properly. When the left ventricle contracts, the valve's leaflets bulge (prolapse) upward or back into the atrium. Mitral valve prolapse sometimes leads to blood leaking backward into the left atrium, a condition called mitral valve regurgitation. Mitral valve prolapse affects slightly more than 2 percent of adults in the North America. Men and women appear to develop MVP in similar numbers. In most people, mitral valve prolapse is harmless and doesn't require treatment or changes in lifestyle. It also doesn't shorten your life expectancy. In some people with mitral valve prolapse, however, the progression of the disease requires treatment. Take care always!

Question: What are the chances of mitral valve regurgitation progressing? I am asking this for a friend of mine...her comp. does not work. Okay, so she was diagnosed with MR and it's mild now. But she's still young. She's 13, going to be 14 in May. She also has hypertension and arrhthymias. Is it likely to progress? She also said that the doctor report said to watch out for MVP.

Answer: Hi Abigail, MVP is mitral valve prolapse which is not something critical. I cannot see any reason why it would progress but your friend will have regular check ups and they will keep an eye on it. It would help if she cut down on salt in her diet. Also it may be necessary for her to have antibiotic cover when she goes to the dentist or if she ever has to have a general anaesthetic. Unless she has already been told about this, she should ask her doctor about it. I wish her well. Love mel.X

Question: Difference between mitral valve prolapse and mitral valve regurgitation? dont send me to a website. keep it in simple terms. i do however know medical terms and the a&p of the heart, so lets hear it.

Answer: Prolapse, the "leaves" of the valve not coming together correctly, causes a characteristic sound, regurgitation, at the mitral valve site, which is between the Left atrium and the left ventricle. The regurgitation sound, sounds like a shrill, squeal or a humming sound and is caused by blood being pushed back into the left atrium. To hear it yourself, get a stethoscope and put it between your left nipple and the left side of your breastbone, closer to the breastbone. Most people will hear 2 sounds "lub, dub" pause and repeat. An MVP'er will hear Lub," that characteristic sound, "dub" pause and repeat. Hope you hear it