Mitral Valve Prolapse Diagnosis
Mitral valve prolapse diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms and the results of tests.
Review the mitral valve prolapse syndrome to see if the symptoms
of MVP may sound familiar to you. Up to 60% of men and women with mitral valve prolapse have no symptoms as the prolapse is so mild. But how do
we make the diagnosis?
Finding A Prolapse
First of all, a doctor will do a cardiac exam on you and listen for specific sounds through a stethoscope. The characteristic sound of an MVP is a "clicking"
at the lower left sternal border. Just about where the tip of the heart is located is where the sound radiates to and is heard the loudest.
The clicking sound may be intensified by what is called a "valsava maneuver". This is where the doctor may ask you to push your hands together
and bear down. This pushes a little more blood through the valve and makes the clicking louder.
If your doctor suspects a valve problem, he or she most probably will order an echocardiogram. This is a sonogram of the heart and is non-invasive. It takes
only a few minutes to perform and can get a look at the heart while it is functioning. In this way, if there is a prolapse, it can be seen as there will be some
regurtitation or back flow from the valve up in the atrium. An echocardiogram confirms a mitral valve prolapse diagnosis.
Treatment Of A Mitral Valve Prolapse
Treatment depends on the severity of the regurtitation across the valve. If mild with few symptoms usually nothing is done. If moderate, with significant
regurgitation, precautions should be taken. Antibiotics must be taken before invasive procedures, including dental work. The reason is to avoid
a strep infection of the heart.
With severe problems, the left atrium may become enlarged due to chronic regurtitation. At this point, with symptoms of shortness of breath that is problematic,
a valve replacement may be recommended.
Remember, although MVP is associated with migraine, see if you have other different types of headaches.
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