Tell me about leaky heart valves and the dangers thereof?

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Mitral valve regurgitation — or mitral regurgitation — is a condition in which the mitral valve doesn't close tightly, which allows blood to flow backward in your heart.

When the mitral valve doesn't function properly, blood can't move through your heart or to the rest of your body as efficiently. Mitral valve regurgitation is also called mitral insufficiency, or incompetence. The condition can leave you fatigued and short of breath. As many as one in five people over age 55 have some degree of mitral valve regurgitation.

Treatment of mitral valve regurgitation depends on the severity and progression of your condition and signs and symptoms. You may need heart surgery to repair or replace the valve. Left unchecked, severe mitral valve regurgitation can lead to congestive heart failure or serious heart rhythm irregularities (arrhythmias).

Complications
Mitral valve regurgitation puts you at risk of endocarditis, an infection of the heart's inner lining (endocardium). Typically, the infection involves one of the heart valves, especially if it's already damaged. If the mitral valve is damaged, it's more prone to infection than is a healthy valve. You can develop endocarditis when bacteria from another part of your body spread through the bloodstream and lodge in your heart. If you have mitral valve regurgitation, your doctor may recommend that you take antibiotics before certain dental or medical procedures that may increase the likelihood of bacteria entering your bloodstream and causing an infection in your heart.

When it's mild, mitral valve regurgitation may never pose a serious threat to your health. But when it's severe, mitral valve regurgitation may lead to these complications:

Congestive heart failure. In congestive heart failure, your heart is unable to pump sufficient blood to meet your body's needs. Fluid and pressure build up in your lungs as a result of mitral valve regurgitation. This can put a strain on the right side of your heart, leading to ankle swelling (edema). People with congestive heart failure experience shortness of breath and fatigue and may wake up at night feeling short of breath.
Atrial fibrillation. This is an irregular heart rhythm in which your heart's upper chambers (atria) beat chaotically and rapidly. Atrial fibrillation is worrisome because it can lead to blood clots forming in your heart. These blood clots may break loose from your heart and travel through your bloodstream to your brain, causing a stroke. Other irregular heartbeats (heart arrhythmias) also may occur in people with mitral valve regurgitation.

Other Answers:
Just had open heart surgery for Mitral Valve Prolapse, where the oxygen rich blood was being pushed back into the valve instead of thru the chamber. Was causing raised blood pressure, enlarged heart muscle, fatigue and migraines.

my grandmother had this. she lived to be 83. they unfortunately gave her a valve transplant. its sad because her kidneys failed and they never should have taken her to surgery. i feel they killed her because she was on Dalis over nite and they took her to surgery the next day. what it is ,is blood leaks from the heart chamber alittle at a time. get a second or third opinion please Kat
Source(s):
kat/ryoutrue2@yahoo.com

pulmonary edema, pulmonary hypertension, recurring chest pain, abnormal EKG, pedal edema (to name a few). all sorts of fun stuff :-)

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Tell me about leaky heart valves and the dangers thereof?

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