Mitral Valve Disease – Symptoms and Causes
Overview
Mitral valve disease affects the valve connecting the heart’s left chambers. This valve sits between the left atrium (upper chamber) and left ventricle (lower chamber).
Two main types of mitral valve problems can develop:
- Mitral valve regurgitation occurs when the valve flaps (leaflets) don’t close properly. This creates a backflow of blood, reducing the heart’s efficiency.
- Mitral valve stenosis happens when the valve flaps become stiff, thick, or fused together. This narrowing restricts blood flow from the atrium to the ventricle.
The severity of symptoms varies widely among patients. Some people have mild cases requiring only monitoring, while others develop serious complications needing immediate attention.
Treatment options depend on several factors:
- How severe the valve problem is
- Whether symptoms are worsening
- The patient’s overall health
- Risk factors for complications
For serious cases, doctors may recommend surgical repair or valve replacement to restore proper function and prevent heart damage.
Types of Mitral Valve Problems
There are two main types of mitral valve problems that can affect heart function:
- Mitral valve regurgitation happens when the valve doesn’t close properly. This allows blood to leak backward into the left atrium when it should be moving forward. The heart must work harder to pump enough blood through the body.
- Mitral valve stenosis occurs when the valve opening becomes narrow or stiff. This restricts blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle. The narrowed opening forces the heart to work harder to pump blood through this smaller space.
Both conditions can range from mild to severe. They may develop slowly over time or appear suddenly, depending on the underlying cause.
Signs and Symptoms
People with mitral valve disease may not feel anything wrong for many years. Some never have symptoms at all.
When symptoms do appear, they can include:
- Feeling very tired
- Heart beating with an unusual rhythm
- Trouble breathing or feeling short of breath
Medical Help
Visit a heart specialist if you notice these symptoms. Doctors who focus on heart problems (cardiologists) can check if mitral valve disease is causing your symptoms.
Getting early medical attention helps prevent more serious problems.
Causes
Mitral valve disease can emerge from various factors. This condition affects how blood flows through the heart.
The mitral valve plays a crucial role in heart function. It contains flaps (leaflets) that open and close during each heartbeat to maintain proper blood flow direction. When this valve functions incorrectly, two main problems can occur:
- Backflow Problem: When valve flaps don’t close properly, blood leaks backward, forcing the heart to work harder.
- Narrowing Problem: When the valve opening becomes too small, blood struggles to move between heart chambers.
Some people are born with mitral valve issues (congenital heart defects). However, many cases develop later in life from various causes.
Rheumatic fever, a complication of strep throat infection, remains a common cause of mitral valve narrowing. When this happens, doctors call it rheumatic mitral valve disease.
Other causes include:
| Cause | Description |
|---|---|
| Heart conditions | Other heart problems can damage the mitral valve |
| Infections | Bacteria or viruses affecting the heart |
| Aging | Natural wear and tear as people get older |
| Autoimmune diseases | Conditions like lupus where the body attacks itself |
The damage pattern depends on the specific cause. Some conditions primarily affect valve structure, while others impact how the valve functions over time.
Risk Factors
Several factors can raise your chance of developing mitral valve disease:
- Age: Risk increases as you get older.
- Heart Infections: Certain infections affecting the heart.
- Heart Conditions: Heart attacks and some heart diseases.
- Medications: Some drugs may increase risk.
- Birth Defects: Congenital heart problems present since birth.
- Chest Radiation: Previous radiation therapy to the chest area.
Possible Problems
Mitral valve disease can lead to several serious health issues. When the valve doesn’t work properly, the heart must work harder. This extra strain can cause the left ventricle to grow larger and the heart muscle to weaken.
Common complications include:
- Atrial fibrillation – irregular and often fast heartbeat.
- Pulmonary hypertension – high blood pressure in lung blood vessels.
- Blood clots – can form and travel to other parts of the body.
- Heart failure – when the heart can’t pump enough blood.
- Stroke – can occur if blood clots travel to the brain.
These complications may develop gradually as the valve problem worsens if left untreated.
