Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP) is a mild risk, but sometimes scary, disorder to live with. Sometimes it’s caught at birth, but many times, a person will find out they have it in various scary scenarios. I found out I had it when I had a bout of serious heart palpitations, accompanied by a panic attack, at the tender age of 14. Some will find out by passing out from a severe dizzy spell. Some may black out. Still others will just have a serious panic attack for no reason whatsoever and not know why.
There are many different symptoms caused by Mitral Valve Prolapse that can alert a person enough to see a doctor. Most are non-life-threatening, but some can threaten your life. The problem with the mild symptoms is that they actually feel so serious that it can cause one to believe they are in grave danger of losing their life, which for some is stressful enough to cause a panic attack, another symptom of Mitral Valve Prolapse. Some of the symptoms also hurt and/or interfere with daily life.
The palpitations that may occur in some MVP sufferers can be one of the scariest symptoms of them all. I experience them frequently and have gotten fairly used to them. Some people with MVP take medications to help avoid this symptom. However, for me medication isn’t an option. All three choices worsen my symptoms. Therefore, I must be creative and simply deal with the symptoms as they come.
The main key to managing Mitral Valve Prolapse for both those who take medicine for it, as well as those who don’t, is avoiding as much stress as possible. Stress is a major factor in exacerbating symptoms. For some, symptoms mainly arise during stress and are minor or non-existent the rest of the time. Others will have symptoms all the time, but stress will just worsen them. It is important to remember that different bodies will act in different ways, but stress will affect most all patients with Mitral Valve Prolapse, or MVP.
I am one of those whose symptoms are ever-present, especially during stressful times. My usual symptom is fatigue, which I experience regularly, usually on a daily basis. I have gotten somewhat accustomed to feeling tired. I can still accomplish my daily duties and am usually capable of doing anything anyone else can. I just feel extremely tired while I do it.
An easy way to explain it is this. Let’s say a person has slept a couple hours fewer than their normal sleeping time the previous night. They awake feeling a bit unrested. But, they still have to get up because it is time for the day to start. In this situation, the person usually feels tired all day. That’s the way fatigue feels, except it cannot be solved, even with more sleep. At least that’s how it feels for me.
This can cause an MVP patient to reach for caffeine, which should really be limited because in an MVP sufferer, the heart rate is already elevated. Caffeine causes further elevation, but to some MVP sufferers, the “awake” feeling caffeine gives them is worth the risk, no matter how much their doctor tells them to avoid it. This can also lead to restlessness, due to over-consumption of caffeinated products.
Many MVP patients, including myself, are pretty accustomed to the tired feeling, so they are able to perform tasks efficiently. If a person with MVP goes above and beyond what they normally do in a day, they will likely be much more tired than normal and need to get some rest.
Another symptom those with MVP may suffer from is dizzy spells or lightheadedness. I experience lightheadedness quite frequently, as do many people with MVP. It’s not really a big deal, unless you make it one. This dizziness or lightheadedness is due to lack of oxygen to the brain, caused by mitral valve regurgitation, which is the causer of all MVP symptoms.
During mitral valve regurgitation, the mitral valve, instead of closing like it’s supposed to after opening to the left ventricle of the heart, releases itself backward into the left atrium of the heart, sometimes leaking blood along with it, which deprives the brain from some of its essential oxygen.
Some MVP sufferers will also faint, due to the lack of oxygen. This has happened to me on occasion, but it’s usually only lasted a few seconds each time. I was perfectly fine afterward in every case, even when it occurred a few times during pregnancies.
Panic attacks are also a common symptom of MVP. They can be caused by stress or sometimes they just happen for no apparent reason. A panic attack is when someone’s heart rate increases and they are extremely scared or nervous all of a sudden. The intensity of the panic attack depends on the person, as well as the situation. If stress is around the person having a panic attack, the panic attack can worsen dramatically. The quicker a person can get calmed down, the better.
A person having a panic attack should be allowed silence and/or soothing words. If a conversation was taking place prior to the panic attack, it is best to continue the conversation later. Music and/or affection can sometimes help. I’ve had panic attacks, but they are not a regular occurrence for me, nor are they severe. Mine usually only last a few seconds.
Most with MVP will learn to notice when one may be coming on and avoid it altogether by getting calm. How to get calm will vary from person to person. It’s been quite some time since my last panic attack. Some people, when having a panic attack, can have the ill-perceived notion that they are dying or need to go to the hospital. Usually this is because the heart rate has increased and shortness of breath or hyper-ventilating also occurs. A person experiencing those extreme symptoms needs to be calmed down as quickly as possible.
Another symptom of MVP is extreme hunger or overeating. It is perceived that because the heart rate is faster in a person with MVP, the metabolic rate may be much faster. Therefore, many with MVP are thin or at least thinner than they should be for the amount of food they consume. Rest assured, they are still getting their nutrition. Their bodies just burn through food faster than in some people.
Many with MVP will grow cranky when they are hungry because of this factor. When they are hungry, their body may feel more needing of the food than someone else. People who are close to them may feel irritated at they way they insist that it’s time to eat, because they don’t understand that type of need, not having felt it before.
It is also pertinent to drink lots of water. Water can help provide some of the oxygen you are losing during the mitral valve regurgitation.
Some with MVP may try to hide some of their symptoms from people because they don’t want to be perceived as a weak person. However, if this is you, remember that you are not weak. You know that you can still get everything done. It just may take longer sometimes if you are affected by fatigue, dizziness, or another symptom. Don’t overdo it, but also don’t lose faith in yourself.
People around you will respect you more if you are honest than if you are hiding something. If your friends would view you as a weak person for having the strength to live with MVP, they are not worthy of your friendship.
It is also important to remember that there is a very rare risk of heart failure with MVP, which causes death. Remember, it’s extremely rare, so don’t stress over it, but do keep in mind that it can occur. If someone with MVP is experiencing symptoms that are more extreme than normal, contact a healthcare professional right away.
If you, or someone else you know has MVP, please keep these symptoms in mind, so that when they occur, you are able to deal with them much better.
For more information on Mitral Valve Prolapse, please also read “What Is Mitral Valve Prolapse?”
Note: The author is not a medical professional. Please contact a medical professional with any medical concerns.
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