What is the difference between mitral valve prolapse and a heart murmur

Secondary Mitral Valve Prolapse may result from damage to valvular structures during acute myocardial infarction, rheumatic heart disease, or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy occurs when the muscle mass of the left ventricle of the heart is larger than normal. Mitral valve prolapse may not cause any symptoms.

The following are the most common symptoms of Mitral Valve Prolapse. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may vary depending on the degree of prolapse present and may include:.

Palpitations sensation of fast or irregular heart beat are the most common complaint among patients with Mitral Valve Prolapse. The palpitations are usually associated with premature ventricular contractions the ventricles beat sooner than they should , but supraventricular rhythms abnormal rhythms that begin above the ventricles have also been detected.

In some cases, patients may experience palpitations without observed dysrhythmias irregular heart rhythm. Chest pain. Chest pain associated with Mitral Valve Prolapse is different from chest pain associated with coronary artery disease and is a frequent complaint.

Usually the chest pain is not like classic angina, but can be recurrent and incapacitating. These symptoms include weakness, fatigue, and shortness of breath. The symptoms of mitral valve prolapse may resemble other medical conditions or problems. Always consult your doctor for a diagnosis.

People with Mitral Valve Prolapse often have no symptoms and detection of a click or murmur may be discovered during a routine examination. The murmur is caused by some of the blood leaking back into the left atrium. The doctor may detect a heart murmur with a clicking sound. After detecting the sound, a doctor is likely to request tests to confirm the diagnosis and assess the severity of the condition. These tests may include:. People with mitral valve prolapse often do not need treatment.

However, a doctor may recommend treatment if a person with mitral valve prolapse is experiencing symptoms or has a significant amount of blood regurgitating into the left atrium.

Several treatment options are available depending on the severity of the prolapse and symptoms. Treatments include the following options:. In most cases, mindful management is sufficient to treat mitral valve prolapse.

With this approach, a person with mitral valve prolapse will visit their doctor regularly for checkups and report any new symptoms that suggest that the condition is getting worse. They may also get regular echocardiograms. If a person has a more severe case of mitral valve prolapse that causes symptoms, a doctor may prescribe medications to help manage the condition, although this approach has limited effectiveness. A doctor may prescribe drugs called beta-blockers for people who only experience palpitations with minimal backflow.

For more significant symptoms or backflow, a doctor may prescribe a combination of medications, including:. A doctor will generally only recommend surgery if a large amount of blood is moving back up into the atrium and causing severe symptoms or leading to other, more serious complications. A surgeon might use open-heart surgery or a less invasive technique. The options for surgery include:. Many times the bacteria that cause this kind of infection start out living in the mouth and enter the bloodstream through the gums.

Doctors used to recommend that people with mitral valve prolapse take antibiotics before dental work and surgical procedures as a precaution.

This is no longer the case. Those who want to play sports can do so if:. This may involve getting more tests. Any heart condition can cause worry. If you have any questions or concerns, speak with your doctor. Reviewed by: Kate M. Cronan, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is Mitral Valve Prolapse? What Happens in Mitral Valve Prolapse? It helps make sure that blood flows in one direction only as it passes from the left atrium into the left ventricle: Each time the heart beats, the left ventricle pumps blood out to the body.

Common symptoms include bursts of rapid heartbeat palpitations , chest discomfort and fatigue. The echo uses ultrasound to evaluate the characteristics of the valve cusps and how much blood may be leaking regurgitation from the valve when the heart contracts.

The test results and extent of your symptoms will guide your health care team in determining if further testing is needed. Talk with your health care team about how to prevent complications from MVP based on your level of risk.

People with an abnormal mitral valve may need mitral valve repair or replacement if:. MVP rarely becomes a serious condition. However, in the most serious cases it can cause abnormal heartbeats arrhythmias that may eventually become life-threatening.

This happens because when the valve leaks, it can cause the atrium to enlarge. An enlarged atrium may lead to heart rhythm problems such as atrial fibrillation, which may cause blood clots to form. When clots travel from the heart to the arteries or the brain, it can lead to a stroke or heart attack. Know the signs and symptoms of heart attack and stroke.