What causes mitral regurgitation?

A tear can cause leakage through the mitral valve suddenly and may require repair by heart surgery. Trauma to the chest also can rupture the cords. Rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever — a complication of untreated strep throat — can damage the mitral valve, leading to mitral valve regurgitation early or later in life.

Does mitral valve regurgitation cause death?

Mitral Valve Prolapse and Sudden Death Most diagnosed with MVP have an extremely mild form of the condition, which carries no measurable risk. Initial evidence that MVP may be associated with sudden death came mainly from autopsy series.

How common is death from mitral valve prolapse?

The estimated prevalence of MVP is 2.4\%, with approximately equal sex distribution. Although most MVP cases are thought to be benign, reported complications include mitral regurgitation (MR) requiring MV surgery, infective endocarditis, stroke, and sudden cardiac death (SCD).

Who is at risk for mitral regurgitation?

Risk factors for mitral valve regurgitation Age — most cases of mitral valve regurgitation are in patients over 40 years old. Heart attack — heart attacks can affect the mitral valve and put you at higher risk for regurgitation.

Is mitral regurgitation considered heart disease?

Mitral regurgitation is a common type of heart valve disorder. Blood that flows between different chambers of your heart must flow through a valve. The valve between the 2 chambers on the left side of your heart is called the mitral valve.

Can a leaky heart valve cause sudden death?

With a leaky valve, sometimes not enough blood gets pumped to the rest of the body. Heart valve leakage/regurgitation can force the heart to work harder to do its job. The condition can lead to heart failure, sudden cardiac arrest, and death.

How long can you live with leaky heart valve?

In developing countries, it progresses much more rapidly and may lead to symptoms in children less than 5 years of age. Around 80\% of patients with mild symptoms live for at least 10 years after diagnosis.

How long can you live with severe mitral regurgitation?

The worrisome natural history of severe mitral regurgitation Widely disparate estimates of long term survival in patients with mitral regurgitation—between 97–27\% at five years—have been reported.

Can an EKG show mitral valve regurgitation?

Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) — can show heart disease, an enlarged heart or abnormal heart rhythms. Chest x-ray — produces images of the heart and lungs, if the left ventricle is enlarged, this could indicate mitral valve regurgitation.

How long can you live with mitral regurgitation?

What should I avoid if I have mitral valve regurgitation?

Eating well: You need to eat lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and proteins. You’ll need to limit salt, added sugars, saturated and trans fats, and alcohol.

How long can you live with mitral valve regurgitation?

Widely disparate estimates of long term survival in patients with mitral regurgitation—between 97–27\% at five years—have been reported. We analysed the natural history of mitral regurgitation caused by flail leaflets because these patients present with severe mitral regurgitation in more than 85\% of cases.

What are the causes of mitral valve regurgitation?

Expert Analysis. There are many causes of mitral valve regurgitation, including mitral valve prolapse, infective endocarditis, rheumatic heart disease, connective tissue diseases, coronary artery disease, and dilated cardiomyopathy, among others. 2 Mitral valve prolapse is the most common valve abnormality in the general population,…

Can you play sports with mitral valve regurgitation?

Mitral Valve Regurgitation. Athletes with a history of atrial fibrillation who are receiving long-term anticoagulation should not engage in sports involving any risk of bodily contact (Class III; Level of Evidence C). These recommendations are all Level of Evidence C and reflect expert opinion.

What happens if the mitral valve does not close properly?

A healthy mitral valve keeps your blood moving in the right direction. A leaky valve doesn’t close the way it should, allowing some blood to flow backward into the left atrium. If left untreated, a leaky valve could lead to heart failure.

Can heart palpitations be caused by heart regurgitation?

When regurgitation is more severe, a person may have palpitations, especially when lying on the left side. If regurgitation is severe enough, the heart may enlarge to maintain forward flow of blood, causing heart failure (when the heart does not pump enough blood to the body).