Mitral Valve Prolapse Symptoms
Mitral valve prolapse is a heart condition involving the mitral valves. Inside your heart are four valves, one being named the mitral valve. The mitral valve controls blood flow between the left atrium and the left ventricle. In a healthy heart, blood flows in one direction between these two chambers, from the atrium to the ventricle. Of the four valves in your heart, the mitral valve is unique, in that it only has two leaflets instead of three like the other heart valves.
As your heart beats, the two leaflets in the mitral valve will open to allow blood to flow. When the heart beats the valves open, and when the heart relaxes they close, preventing blood from flowing in the wrong direction.
If you’ve been diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse, the leaflets inside of the mitral valve are not sealing properly. When the heart beats, the leaflets should seal, but with mitral valve prolapse, one of the leaflets moves back into the atrium. Because of this, blood is allowed to flow back into the heart. This condition is sometimes referred to as a leaky heart valve or mitral 
regurgitation. As a consequence of the mitral regurgitation, the heart is required to work harder by re-pumping blood throughout our heart and bodies. Mitral valve prolapse can result in many other problems such as, arrhythmia, infection, or a thickened heart.
Luckily, in many cases, mitral valve prolapse poses no serious health risks, though some patients will still suffer from various symptoms such as, chest pains, and heart palpitations. Many patients will not require treatment for this condition.
Data shows that as many as one in twenty american patients may suffer from mitral valve prolapse symptoms. In most cases people are born with mitral valve prolapse as a congenital condition. Even more interesting, more women than men, suffer from mitral valve prolapse. Data shows that it may affect up to six percent of all women.
Mitral Valve Prolapse Symptoms
- Heart Palpitations
- Recurring chest pain
- Racing heart or skipping beats
- Difficulty catching your breath
- Anxiety
- Dizziness
During any regular medical exam, your doctor could diagnose mitral valve prolapse with the use of a simple stethoscope. If you have mitral valve prolapse, your heart would make a small clicking sound when the defective leaflet opens and closes. Additionally, when blood flows back into the atrium, your doctor would also be able to hear a whooshing sound. It’s the sound of a heart murmur brought about by mitral valve prolapse.
To determine the extent of of your condition, a cardiologist may order an echocardiogram. An echocardiogram will show a picture of your heart and demonstrates the flow of blood through the heart. This will allow your doctor to determine how efficient the blood is flowing through your heart, and whether you have a mild, moderate, or severe case. This procedure would allow your doctor to also determine if you would require surgery or a heart replacement.