What is Mitral Valve Prolapse?

Friday, 16 March 2018 13:30

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Published in Heart Disease

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American Heart Association: http://www.heart.org

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) occurs when one of your heart's valves doesn't work properly. The flaps of the valve are "floppy" and don't close tightly. Most people who have the condition are born with it. It also tends to run in families.

The mitral valve is a valve that lets blood flow from one chamber of the heart, the left atrium, to another called the left ventricle. In mitral valve prolapse, part of the mitral valve slips backward loosely into the chamber called the left atrium. This happens when the main heart muscle, called the left ventricle, squeezes during each heartbeat.

In mitral valve prolapse, the valve slips backward due to the abnormal size of or damage to the mitral valve tissues. For most people with mitral valve prolapse, the cause is unknown.

Mitral valve prolapse can run in families. It can also be caused by conditions in which cartilage is abnormal. Mitral valve prolapses affects 2% to 3% of the general population¹, while in the US, this condition affects up to 5% of the population².

Symptoms

Mitral valve prolapse is usually a lifelong disorder; however, many people with this condition never have symptoms. When diagnosed, people may be surprised to learn that they have a heart condition.

When signs and symptoms do occur, it may be because blood is leaking backward through the valve (regurgitation).
Mitral valve prolapse symptoms can vary widely from one person to another. They tend to be mild and develop gradually. Symptoms may include:

A racing or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Fatigue
Angina/chest pain

Risk Factors and Causes

According to medical professionals, there are several risk factors and causes, starting with age and gender.

While MVP affects women and men of all ages, it appears to be more prevalent in women aged 20 to 40. Men are at greater risk of complications, though, particularly those over 50. Race and ethnicity may be risk factors.

Statistics show that between two and three percent of the global population² are living with mitral valve prolapse, making it one of the most common heart valve disorders.

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¹Circulation, Evolution of Mitral Valve Prolapse
²Harvard Health Publications, Mitral valve prolapse

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