Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome

In 1992 I was diagnosed with a common heart condition called Mitral Valve Prolapse. The cardiologist put me on a beta-blocker medication and sent me on my way, considering me to be one of his “healthy” patients compared to his usual cases. I certainly felt anything but healthy, since I suffered from a myriad of debilitating symptoms including fatigue, dizziness, heart palpitations, chest pain, anxiety and panic attacks, and continuous numbness and tingling in my fingers and toes.

After much research, I found the answers to my questions in a book by Lyn Frederickson in which she described Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome (MVPS). This revelation allowed me to put my condition into the proper, positive perspective, and to allow my body to stop fighting and start healing.

You can do the same.

A definition

Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP) is defined as a structural defect in the heart that is not life-threatening and usually causes no symptoms. The defect is located in the mitral valve, where it does not close properly — sometimes allowing for a backflow of blood. This backflow can cause a “click” sound, which can lead to a diagnosis of a heart murmur. If MVP causes any symptoms at all, they generally are palpitations, fatigue, or mild chest pain. MVP is a very common genetic condition; If you have relatives with MVP then there’s a good chance you probably do, too.

Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome is MVP coupled with a condition called Dysautonomia. Dysautonomia is an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system (“fight or flight”) that can cause your body to be extremely sensitive to stimulation such as: stress, caffeine, sugar, low blood volume (dehydration), medications, etc.

Possible complications

There are possible, rare, complications associated with MVP. Because of the structural abnormality, MVP causes your heart to be extra vulnerable to infections such as bacterial endocarditis. This is why you need to discuss with your dentist and cardiologist the possible need for preventative antibiotics before you have any invasive procedures done (including going to the dentist for cleanings, etc.). Other possible rare complications include the blockage of an artery in the brain (cerebral emboli), a seriously abnormal heart beat (ventricular tachycardia), and — exceptionally rare — sudden death.

Who has MVP?

There is a higher incidence of MVP among those who have the following conditions: Grave’s disease, hypomastia, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, myotic dystrophy, sickle cell disease, atrial septal defect, Marfan’s syndrome and rheumatic heart disease. There also seems to be a higher incidence among women, but this is probably simply because women tend to investigate their symptoms more routinely than men do.

There are also similarities in body types among those who have MVP. Many people with MVP have lax joints, are tall and thin, and have long arms and fingers. Twenty-five percent of MVP patients also have a high arched palate, scoliosis, funnel chest, or straight back.

Methods of diagnosis

There are four criteria used to diagnose MVP: (1) your heart sounds, through a stethoscope; (2) your list of symptoms; (3) your family history (MVP tends to run in families); and (4) the results of an echocardiogram. You can have a negative echo and still be diagnosed with MVP if you meet the other criteria.

Symptoms

The symptoms associated with MVPS can be quite frightening. You can be lying in bed fast asleep, and then wake up suddenly with an intense panic overwhelming you. Many times you might avoid going certain places if you’ve had bad experiences there before. You might think it’s those places that are causing the symptoms, instead of your own body.

MVP-related symptoms

Awareness of heart beat

Arrhythmia (skipped/extra beats)

Chest pain

Fluttering feeling in chest

Palpitations

Tachycardia (pounding/racing heart rate)

Fainting

Fatigue

Low blood pressure

Low exercise tolerance

Dizzy spells

Migraine headaches

MVPS-related symptoms

All of the above, plus…

Anxiety (often without reason)

Panic attacks

Depression

Feeling too hot/too cold — not related to weather

Temperature sensitivity

Insomnia

Irritable bowel syndrome

“Lump-in-the-throat” feeling

Difficulty swallowing

Mood swings

Numbness/tingling in fingers/toes

Sensitivity to medications

Symptom Self-Help Overview

This section discusses easy, simple, painless things you can do to reduce or alleviate your symptoms. The main key to accomplishing this is to reduce stress. I know we don’t have much control over what life hands us, but we do have control over how we react to it. If our bodies are in good physical and mental shape, we are better able to handle the ups and downs of existence.

Relaxation

There are many different ways to force yourself to relax. Many times we are so busy taking care of everyone else in our lives that we forget to take care of ourselves. It is very important for our own well being that we take time out of each day for relaxation. The lower our tension levels are, the lower our anxiety levels will be. Simple relaxation can help to attain this goal.

Yoga is a very good way of reducing stress and increasing muscle tone all over. It improves circulation and flexibility as well. Most communities offer yoga classes at community centers, local colleges, or the YMCA. If your community doesn’t offer classes, check out a yoga book or two from your local library or bookstore.

Another good form of relaxation is meditation. In order to meditate, you need to set aside a length of time (preferably at least 15 minutes) at the same time each day when you can go to a quiet, private place. Practice relaxing, slow deep breathing patterns, and you can use a mantra also. You can also give yourself relaxing self-talk, like “My right arm is heavy and warm… I am calm,” etc. Whatever you do, the point is to focus on something other than the everyday stresses in life — and to give your body and brain a break.

Visualization is another method. This is a form of “focused fantasy” in which you construct in your dream the most perfect, relaxing, calm, beautiful place that you can imagine. Every time you feel yourself getting tense and frustrated, you can take yourself on a mini vacation to your perfect place and let go of all the stress. When you come back, you will be better able to handle the situation and you won’t feel as uptight.

Another approach is to use biofeedback for relaxation. This is used to learn how to control your emotional responses to problems. It is a great way to observe the effectiveness of your chosen relaxation technique.

Sleep is also a very important aspect of relaxation. If possible, take an afternoon nap. Our own sleep is something we often overlook because we are too busy doing everything else for everybody else. Make sure to go to sleep at about the same time every night, and try to get about seven hours at least. If you have difficulty falling asleep, develop a bedtime ritual, such as a warm bath, reading a book, or having a warm glass of milk or decaffeinated tea.

Exercise

Exercise is very important to our overall health. It improves our circulation, strengthens our muscles (including the heart), can help reduce stress, and can even help you sleep better. Try to do low-impact aerobic exercise at least three times a week for at least 20 minutes each time. Brisk walking is a good example, and it’s easy to do. Weight lifting is also good, but be cautious because certain exercises (upper body ones that use too much weight or too many reps) that should be avoided so you don’t overly strain your chest and heart.

Diet

Fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, low-fat forms of protein, complex carbohydrates, and low-fat forms of dairy products are the keys to a healthy diet. In addition, it is very important for a MVP patient to cut out all caffeine (including all chocolate and tea) and sweets from the diet. These are powerful stimulants, and can cause your symptoms to worsen dramatically regardless of how else your diet might be healthy. Avoid alcohol, too, since it can worsen panic and anxiety symptoms. One of the most important aspects to a healthy diet for someone with MVP is to drink lots of water. In the summer months I also drink Gatorade to replenish electrolytes. Unless your doctor advises you otherwise, another important aspect of the MVP diet is salt. Adequate salt intake can help to keep your blood pressure from falling too low, and can help to increase your blood volume — all of which will improve your symptoms.

Medication

I think medications play a very important role for the person who has lost the ability to function normally in society — it can help them to regain their bearings before attempting to regain control of their lives. There are many medications available to assist you in controlling your symptoms. These drugs fall into two different categories: antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications. Antidepressant medications consist of four different types of drugs: MAO inhibitors, serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, tricyclic and tetracyclic derivatives, and a miscellaneous type. Antianxiety medications consist of five different types of drugs: beta-blockers, benzodiazepine derivatives, antihistamine derivatives, sedative types, and a miscellaneous type.

If the first medication you try doesn’t work, don’t give up. It may take months to find just the right medication at just the right dose. Be persistent!

What to do next

The most important thing to do after a diagnosis of MVP is to learn as much about the condition as you can, through research. This knowledge will put you in a position of power, to combat and reverse your possible feelings of victimization. There are many wonderful books available on MVPS, as well as supporting Web sites and local support groups. Networking through a local support group is vitally important since it allows you to have a voice for your frustrations, and to share insights, helpful hints, and suggestions with others who are going through the same trials and tribulations that you are.

The most helpful thing to remember after being diagnosed with Mitral Valve Prolapse is that you are not alone. Find a book, join a support group, and use these things to get power over your condition instead of letting it have control over you.

Reference:

• www.MVPSupport.com