Mitral Valve Prolapse
(With Mitral Valve Regurgitation)

Mitral Regurgitation - Symptoms, Problems, Treatment

Mitral valve regurgitation, also known as mitral regurgitation, is a condition in which the mitral valve leaflets do not seal tightly. This valvular defect allows blood to flow backward in your heart and is often referred to as a "leaking heart valve".

When the mitral valve does not function properly, blood can not efficiently flow through your heart and body. Mitral valve regurgitation is also called mitral insufficiency, or incompetence. The condition - which can be caused by a mitral valve prolapse - often leaves the patient fatigued and short of breath.

According to the Mayo Clinic, as many as one in five people over the age of fifty-five have some degree of mitral regurgitation. Treatment of mitral valve regurgitation depends on the severity and progression of your condition, signs and symptoms. You may need heart surgery to repair or replace the mitral valve. Left unchecked, severe mitral valve regurgitation can lead to congestive heart failure or serious heart rhythm irregularities (arrhythmias).

What Are Mitral Valve Regurgitation Symptoms?

Signs and symptoms of mitral valve regurgitation depend on how severely and quickly the disorder develops. Most often, mitral regurgitation is mild and develops slowly. Because many patients have no symptoms (see "Were You Asymptomatic Like Sherri?"), you may be completely unaware that you have this mitral regurgitation.

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, when signs and symptoms of mitral valve regurgitation develop, they do so gradually because the heart is able to compensate for the valve defect.

Mitral regurgitation is often detected when your doctor hears a heart murmur with a stethescope. Sometimes, however, the disorder develops quickly, and you may experience an abrupt onset of more severe symptoms. Indicators of mitral valve regurgitation include:

• Shortness of breath, especially with exertion or when you lie down
• Fatigue, especially during times of increased activity
• Cough, especially at night or when lying down
• Heart palpitations - sensations of a rapid, fluttering heartbeat
• Swollen feet or ankles
• Heart murmur
• Excessive urination

>> NEXT: To learn more about mitral valve regurgitation and the medical procedures used to repair or replace defective mitral valves, please click here.