Mitral stenosis (patient information)
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What is mitral stenosis?
How do I know if I have mitral stenosis and what are the symptoms of mitral stenosis?
In adults there may be no symptoms at all. Symptoms may appear or get worse with exercise or any activity that raises the heart rate. Usual symptoms may include:
- Chest discomfort: Patients may feel tight, crushing, pressure, squeezing, constricting, increasing with activity and decreasing with rest. And the senses may radiate to the arm, neck, jaw, or other areas.
- Cough, possibly hemoptysis
- Difficulty breathing during or after exercise or when lying flat
- Fatigue
- Frequent respiratory infections such as bronchitis
- Palpitations
- Swelling of feet or ankles
Other health problems may also cause these symptoms. Only a doctor can tell for sure. A person with any of these symptoms should tell the doctor so that the problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.
Who is at risk for mitral stenosis?
Clinical data has suggested that the development of mitral stenosis is related to several factors.
- A history of rheumatic fever and recurrent strep infections
- Radiation treatment involving the chest
- Medications such as ergot preparations used for migraines
How to know you have mitral stenosis?
- Echocardiogram: This kind of painless test can help the doctor closely examine the mitral valve. It uses sound waves to produce an image of the valves, ventricles and atrium. The image shows the structure of the mitral valve and its movement during the beating of the heart. Echocardiogram can tell whether mitral valve opens wide to let blood flow through or not, whether it close fully or not. Further more, the doctor can measure the speed of blood flow through patient's heart and the mitral valve area by echocardiogram.
- Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE): This type of echocardiogram allows an even closer look at the mitral valve than echocardiogram. During the procedure, the doctor inserts a small transducer down the esophagus that lies close to the heart. This can provide a clearer picture of the mitral valve and blood flow through it.
- ECG (electrocardiogram)
- Cardiac MRI:
- Chest x-ray
- Cardiac catheterization
When to seek urgent medical care?
Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of mitral stenosis. Call your health care provider if you have mitral stenosis and symptoms do not improve with treatment, or if new symptoms appear. If you experience either of the following symptoms, seeking urgent medical care as soon as possible:
- Hemoptysis
- Difficulty breathing when lying flat; may wake up with difficulty breathing
- Palpitation
Treatment options
Diseases with similar symptoms
Where to find medical care for mitral stenosis?
Directions to Hospitals Treating mitral stenosis
Prevention of mitral stenosis
Mitral stenosis itself often cannot be prevented, but complications can be prevented. Follow the health care provider's recommended treatment for conditions that may cause valve disease. Treat strep infections promptly to prevent rheumatic fever. Tell your health care provider if you have a family history of congenital heart diseases.
What to expect (Outook/Prognosis)?
The outcome varies widely. It depends on:
- The severity of mitral stenosis, such as mitral valve area.
- Heart function
- With/without complications such as atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, blood clots to the brain, intestines, kidneys, or other areas, heart failure, pulmonary edema, pulmonary hypertension, etc.
- Whether or not the mitral can be repaired or replaced by surgery.
Copyleft Sources
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000175.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/mitral-valve-stenosis/DS00420/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print