Mitral valve
In the heart, a small flap stops blood from flowing the wrong way mitral valve. Problems with this valve can affect the blood flow in the body.
Problems that affect the mitral valve are:
- Mitral valve prolapse, the valve becomes too floppy
- Mitral regurgitation, the valve leaks, and blood flows the wrong way
- In Mitral stenosis, the valve does not open as wide
These conditions can be severe, but they’re constantly treatable.
Mitral valve prolapse
The issue prevails when the valve is too floppy and does not close tightly.
Signs
- Breathlessness
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Irregular Heartbeat
Treatments
- Making lifestyle changes like quitting smoke and alcohol
- Medicines for irregular heartbeats, like beta blockers
- Surgery to replace the floppy valve
Causes
The cause of mitral valve prolapse is problems with tissues that join the mitral valve to the heart muscles. A heart attack can also damage the tissues. Some individuals are born with the condition.
Mitral regurgitation
In this scenario, the blood flows the wrong path in the heart because the valve has not closed correctly.
Symptoms
- Dizziness
- Breathlessness
- Fatigue
- Chest pain
Treatments
If you experience symptoms or an issue with the valve, your doctor may recommend the following:
- Medications to relieve your signs – such as diuretics to reduce breathlessness
- Open heart surgery to repair or replace the mitral valve
- Keyhole surgery
Mitral stenosis
When the mitral valve does not open up as wide, restricting the flow of blood through the heart is known as
mitral stenosis.
Symptoms
There are no particular symptoms
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath
- Tiredness
- Palpitations
- Chest pain
Treatments and causes are similar to other Mitral
valve conditions.
Mitral valve surgery
The most common mitral valve procedures are:
- Mitral valve repair
- Mitral valve replacement
- Balloon valvuloplasty – where the mitral valve gets stretched with a tiny balloon
Reviewed by – Dr. Priyanka, MBBS MD Microbiology
Page last reviewed: 04 October 2022