Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a common heart condition affecting the mitral valve. It involves a structural change in this valve, impacting how blood flows through the heart. Understanding MVP involves recognizing its nature and influence on heart function.
What Mitral Valve Prolapse Entails
The mitral valve, situated between the heart’s left upper chamber (left atrium) and the left lower chamber (left ventricle), functions like a one-way door.
It opens to allow oxygen-rich blood to flow from the left atrium into the left ventricle and then closes tightly to prevent blood from flowing backward when the ventricle contracts to pump blood out to the body. This valve has two flaps, or leaflets, supported by cord-like tendons called chordae tendineae, which help them open and close properly.
In mitral valve prolapse, one or both of these leaflets become enlarged or stretched, causing them to bulge backward into the left atrium during the heart’s contraction. This bulging can sometimes prevent the valve from closing completely, allowing a small amount of blood to leak backward, a condition known as mitral regurgitation. While this structural abnormality means the valve doesn’t function perfectly, for many individuals, it does not cause noticeable symptoms or significant health problems.
Does Mitral Valve Prolapse Resolve?
A common question regarding mitral valve prolapse is whether it can disappear or resolve over time. MVP is a permanent structural characteristic of the heart valve and typically does not “go away” on its own. It stems from an anatomical difference, often involving abnormally stretchy valve leaflets, rather than a temporary issue like inflammation or infection.
Because MVP involves physical changes to the valve’s tissue, it is not a condition the body can simply correct or heal. While associated symptoms may fluctuate, the underlying valve structure remains prolapsed. The condition is often present from birth or develops due to connective tissue disorders, meaning the valve’s physical properties are inherently different. Its effects can vary and may not always be troublesome.
Monitoring and Management of MVP
Managing mitral valve prolapse typically involves a strategy tailored to the individual’s condition, considering symptoms or complications. For many, MVP is harmless and requires no specific treatment beyond regular observation. Healthcare providers may recommend periodic check-ups, often including an echocardiogram, to monitor valve function and ensure no significant changes occur.
Lifestyle adjustments can support heart health for individuals with MVP. Adopting a heart-healthy diet, which includes plenty of vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins while limiting sodium and unhealthy fats, is recommended. Regular physical activity, such as moderate aerobic exercises like walking or swimming, is generally safe and beneficial for most people with MVP.
Avoiding stimulants like excessive caffeine and certain medications that can raise blood pressure may also be advised, especially if symptoms like palpitations are present. If symptoms like chest pain or palpitations are bothersome, medications such as beta-blockers might be prescribed to help manage them.
Recognizing When MVP Needs Attention
While often benign, it is important to recognize when mitral valve prolapse might be progressing or causing complications requiring medical attention. Symptoms that worsen over time, such as increasing shortness of breath, especially during exercise or when lying flat, should prompt a doctor’s visit. Significant fatigue, dizziness or lightheadedness, and persistent chest pain not relieved by rest are also signs to report.
These symptoms could indicate the development of more significant mitral regurgitation, where the backward blood flow becomes substantial, or the onset of heart rhythm problems. An enlarged heart chamber or a decrease in the heart’s pumping efficiency are also concerns that may arise.
Prompt evaluation by a healthcare provider allows for assessment of the valve’s condition and determination of whether further intervention, such as medication adjustments or, in some cases, valve repair, is needed.