mitral valve stenosis
Mitral valve stenosis (mitral stenosis) is a narrowing of one of the heart valves At this time, the mitral valve cannot close completely, which causes the blood flow to the ventricles to be obstructed With mitral stenosis, the patient has shortness of breath and other symptoms
The main cause of mitral stenosis is rheumatism, which is associated with streptococcal infections. Rheumatism is now rare in developed countries, but is still prevalent in the developing world Rheumatism causes valve scarring, stenosis and its complications
Causes of mitral stenosis are:
- Rheumatism Rheumatic fever, or rheumatism, is a complication of strep throat infection and used to be common around the world. Rheumatism damages the mitral valve and causes stenosis due to sticking or thickening of the leaflets. Symptoms may not appear for years
- Calcium accumulation As we age, calcium deposits form around the mitral valve, causing stenosis
- Other reasons Rarely, children are born with a narrowed valve—a congenital defect Surgical intervention is recommended for congenital stenosis Other rare causes include radiation therapy to the chest cavity and certain autoimmune diseases, such as lupus.
How the heart works The heart is the central organ of the cardiovascular system and consists of four parts The two upper chambers (chambers) are the atria and receive blood, while the lower chambers, the ventricles, pump the blood around the body.
Four heart valves open and close to keep blood flowing in one direction The mitral valve, which is located in the middle of the left part, consists of two tissue structures - the cusps
The mitral valve opens when blood must flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle. The valve then closes to prevent blood flowing from the left ventricle into the aorta back into the atrium.
Mitral stenosis sometimes causes no symptoms at all Mild problems can quickly worsen See your doctor if you have:
- shortness of breath – shortness of breath, especially with exertion or lying down
- fatigue, especially with exertion
- swelling of the feet or ankles
- palpitations – fast heartbeat
- dizziness, feeling like your heart is racing
while exercising Episodes of rapid heartbeat accompany the symptoms Symptoms can also be caused by pregnancy, stress or infection
In mitral valve stenosis, increased pressure in the heart is transmitted to the lungs, causing fluid to accumulate in the lungs and respiratory failure.
Symptoms of mitral stenosis often appear between the ages of 30-50, but may also occur in children.
Mitral stenosis causes signs and symptoms that are sometimes revealed on physical examination These include:
- Heart murmur
- Fluid build-up in the lung
- Irregular heartbeat – arrhythmia
When to see a doctor
See your doctor and schedule an appointment if you have fatigue or shortness of breath on exertion
If you have been diagnosed with mitral stenosis and have no symptoms, talk to your doctor about the frequency of visits
