Mitral Valve Prolapse Symptom

Mitral valve prolapse is believed to be inherited, with a greater expression of the MVP gene in females. Although people with MVP come in all shapes and sizes, there are physical features commonly associated with MVP.

These include: pectus excavatum depression of the breast bone, scoliosis curvature of the spine, abnormally straight thoracic spine straight back, arm span greater than height, unusual joint flexibility, and low body weight.

Common signs and symptoms of Mitral Valve Prolapse

Sometimes people with mitral valve prolapse have symptoms that go along with this condition. Here are some of these symptoms:

• Chest pain
• Fatigue
• Palpitations, extra heart beat
• Lightheadedness, dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Anxiety and/or panic attacks
• Headaches
• Low exercise tolerance
• Mood swings

Other characteristic symptoms of Mitral Valve Prolapse

• sensation of feeling the heart beat (palpitations)
• difficulty breathing after exertion
• cough
• shortness of breath when lying flat (orthopnea)

The doctor may feel a thrill (vibration) over the heart. Using a stethoscope, the doctor may hear a distinctive murmur or other abnormal sounds. (The murmur is described as a mid-systolic click and is sometimes followed by a late systolic murmur. This means a click sound is heard midway in the "beating" part of the heartbeat cycle, followed by a murmur near the end of this time.) The murmur is worse when standing. Blood pressure is usually normal.

Mitral Valve Prolapse

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Health Tip

Regular exercise strengthen the heart and reduces the blood cholesterol levels and blood pressure, both of which are factors in developing blockages in the arteries. Statistically, those who exercise regularly are more likely to survive a heart attack.