What Is Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP)?

What Is Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP)?
Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is also known as click-murmur syndrome (it causes a

characteristic heart murmur that may be heard through a stethoscope), Barlow's syndrome,

dysautonomia, balloon mitral valve and floppy valve syndrome. The mitral valve is the

heart valve between the left atrium and left ventricle . It has two flaps, or cusps. The

opening in the valve may be narrower than normal (mitral stenosis) or wider than normal

(mitral incompetence).

Researchers from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's (NHLBI) Framingham

Heart Study report that MVP is substantially less common and less serious than previously

believed. In a study appearing in the July 1, 1999 issue of The New England Journal of

Medicine, the researchers report that MVP affects about 2 percent of the population rather

than the 5 to 35 percent of the population indicated in earlier estimates. And,

contradicting earlier studies suggesting that MVP occurs more commonly in women, the

researchers found that men and women are equally likely to have the condition.

When a person's mitral valve is somewhat looser than normal, it may allow one of the

portions of the valve to "billow" backward slightly into the upper chamber during the

heart's contraction (prolapse). Occasionally, there may be a small leak of blood backwards

into the upper chamber of the heart. The heart still pumps and receives an adequate blood

supply. Prolapsing mitral valves do not tend to degenerate over time. Mitral valve

prolapse sometimes accompanies the rare Marfan syndrome.

Symptoms often occur following a major stressor such as childbirth, severe viral

illness or an emotional stressor such as change in marital status, job pressure, etc.

Symptoms may vary from very mild to rather severe and may change considerably over time.

Most patients have no symptoms but those who do may experience chest pain, palpitations,

fatigue, dizziness, anxiety, lightheadedness when getting up from a chair or bed and

palpitations.

Irregular Heartbeat: Palpitations may also be due to the increased awareness of

normal heart beats common in MVP. The common experience of "palpitations" upon lying down

at night, particularly when lying on the left side, is almost always due to MVP.

Tachycardia: A sudden speeding up of both the heart rate or the pulse along with a

feeling of "pounding" is frequently felt by patients with MVP.

Panic Attack: A very distressing MVP symptom is the panic attack. This is a sudden

feeling of intense anxiety or impending doom for no apparent reason. These attacks may be

fleeting or mild or at times very severe and disabling.

It is very important that everyone receive a nutritionally complete, well balanced diet,

especially individuals with mitral valve prolapse. MVP patients often tend to have very

low energy levels, and inadequate diets can further aggravate this problem. It is

recommended that patients totally eliminate caffeine from their diet. Caffeine is a drug,

a stimulant. It tends to stimulate the autonomic nervous system and produce an unstable

state which can further aggravate fatigue. The second major recommendation for MVP

patients is the reduction of sugar in the diet. Although sugar is frequently used by

patients for energy, many people are truly addicted to it, especially sugar in chocolate.

A surge in blood sugar stimulates the autonomic nervous system. It is recommended that MVP

patients have a mid-afternoon high protein snack such as cheese or peanut butter crackers.

Fad and crash diets are not a good idea. IF you feel you would like to lose

weight, talk with your physician, set a goal, and work out a plan. "Diet pills"

are an absolute "no-no." They are guaranteed to make MVP worse.

Symptoms of MVP will clear more quickly in patients who exercise regularly. Exercise

should be of an aerobic type.

Medication may be required to completely clear symptoms related to mitral valve

prolapse. It is important to take the medication as directed. It generally takes two or

more weeks before you notice any change in MVP symptoms. DO not stop or change your dose

of medication without checking with your physician.

Following a number of adverse reports, including death, the Food and Drug

Administration has convened panels to evaluate a number of products containing ephedrine,

a powerful stimulant extracted from a Chinese herb variously called ma huang or

ephedra.

In China, the Ephedra sinica plant has been used for more than 5,000 years as a

medicinal agent to treat hay fever and asthma. The plant contains both ephedrine and

pseudoephedrine, which can cause vasoconstriction, cardiac stimulation, and their

attendant increases in blood pressure and heart rate. Nervousness, insomnia, vertigo, and

headaches are also common effects. Herbs, vitamins, and minerals are classified as dietary

supplements. In contrast to regulations for synthetic drugs, manufacturers are not

required to prove that dietary supplements are effective or safe. The FDA has now compiled

over 800 reports of adverse reactions to ephedra-based products, including strokes,

arrhythmias, elevated blood pressure, and the precipitation of acute myocardial

infarctions.