Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome: Symptoms Of Mitral Valve Prolapse

Mitral valve prolapse syndrome may be associated with migraine headache symptoms. Like migraine, mitral valve prolapse or MVP is common in women under the age of 60 and seems to be less common in the elderly. 12-16% of women in their 20's and 30's have MVP whereas only 3% of elderly women have it. For men, the condition is about 3-5% across all ages. >

The cause of MVP is unknown but in addition to migraine, it is also associated with other heart conditions such as atrial septal defects and coronary artery disease.

What Is Mitral Valve Prolapse?

First of all, the mitral valve is in the heart and receives oxygenated blood directly from the lungs through the left atrium, the chamber above it. The contraction of the atrium causes the blood to be pushed through the valve into the left ventricle. Named after a bishop's mitre or hat, the valve has two leaves with muscles attached to it that assist in moving the blood by pulling the valve open.

The American Heart Association describes mitral valve prolapse as “(when) one or both flaps (of the mitral valve) are enlarged and some of their supporting strings are too long. So, when the heart contracts or pumps, the mitral valve flaps do not close smoothly or evenly. Instead, part of one or both flaps collapse backward into the left atrium. This sometimes allows a small amount of blood to leak backward through the valve”.

Mitral Valve Prolapse Symptoms

Mitral valve prolapse is diagnosed by a doctor or practioner listening to your heart for specific sounds consistent with MVP. It also has characteristic markings on an EKG but diagnosis is confirmed with an echocardiogram, which is a sonogram of the heart.

The symptoms of mitral valve prolapse include:

Shortness of breath on exertion
Palpitations
Chest pain that comes and goes
Unexplained fatigue
anxiety and panic
migraine headaches

Up to 60% of people with mitral valve prolapse syndrome do not have symptoms and don't even know that they have it!

Here is full information about mitral valve diagnosis and treatment.

Although MVP is associated with migraine, see if you have other different types of headaches.

Finally, keep in mind that there are other cardiovascular conditions that could cause headache. The most common is the high blood pressure headache but headaches may also start after a stroke if it was a moderate to severe bleed.

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