Your Care Instructions
The mitral valve lets blood flow from the upper to lower areas of the heart. Mitral valve regurgitation occurs when the valve cannot close all the way and blood backs up (regurgitates) into the upper area of the heart. This causes the heart to work harder to pump the extra blood.
Mild regurgitation causes few problems. Many people have it for many years without having problems. But if the regurgitation is severe, it can weaken the heart and lead to heart failure.
The causes of mitral valve regurgitation include a heart attack, heart infection (endocarditis), mitral valve prolapse, cardiomyopathy, calcium buildup in the heart, the weight-loss medicine fen-phen, and diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Some people are born with the valve problem.
Your doctor may just want to watch your health closely if you have mild mitral valve regurgitation. You may take medicine to treat a problem that is causing the regurgitation. Or you may take medicine for other health problems that are caused by mitral regurgitation. For more severe disease, the valve may need to be repaired or replaced.
Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse call line if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.
Where can you learn more?
Go to https://www.healthwise.net/patientEd
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