Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a heart condition involving the valve separating the left atrium and ventricle. Although the exact cause is unknown, it seems to be a congenital issue with genetic tendencies for which there are a variety of treatments available. The symptoms are easily mistakable for other issues, if they are present at all. Here’s a look at the symptoms and complications of mitral valve prolapse.
What is MVP?
Blood goes through the body in a specific pattern. As the different parts of the body suck the oxygen out of the blood, it flows back up to the heart. After passing through the right atrium (the upper chamber) into the right ventricle (lower chamber), it heads to the lungs to be reoxygenated, then returns to the other side of the heart, passing through the left atrium and into the left ventricle. The mitral valve is the gatekeeper for the blood moving through the left chambers. As the heart contracts, the flaps of the mitral valve open to pass blood into the ventricle. In a normal heart, the valves promptly close so that no blood flows backward into the atrium. When the mitral valve has prolapsed, it bulges up into the atrium. Ultimately, the valve may be too big, too stretchy, or have an opening that’s too large.
What are the symptoms of MVP?
When symptoms of MVP are present in an individual, they tend to begin gradually and progressively become more apparent. The strain put on the muscles can weaken the heart over the years, causing issues like heart palpitations, in which the heart beat seems to suddenly skip or flutter, or perhaps beat very hard or fast.
Chest pain and coughing are also associated with symptomatic MVP, along with shortness of breath. Since all of these things essentially mean the heart isn’t pumping as well as it used to, blood doesn’t flow as well, causing dizziness or lightheadedness, and extreme tiredness. Migraine headaches and anxiety are also associated with MVP.
Complications of MVP
In some cases, the prolapse can allow blood to sneak back into the upper chamber, a condition called mitral valve regurgitation. If only a small amount of blood leaks in, MVP may still be asymptomatic -- in some cases, the backflow isn’t sufficient enough to cause problems. So, most cases of mitral valve prolapse are completely harmless -- but not all.
MVP can cause chronic arrhythmias, or unusual heart beats, because of the strain put on the heart muscle over many years. These are generally minimally problematic as well, although atrial fibrillation, an arrhythmia characterized by a quivering of the chamber walls rather than a steady pumping, can be more serious. MVP and regurgitation can also increase the risk of endocarditis, an infection of the heart. In fact, according to the National Institute of Health, “MVP is the most common heart condition that puts people at risk for this infection.” Bacteria lurking in the bloodstream are attracted to the abnormal valve’ they latch on and infect the inner lining. Endocarditis symptoms include fever, chills, and head or muscle aches; if you experience these symptoms, seek treatment immediately.
