Posted on 03/01/2022 10:29:41 PM PST by ConservativeMind
The larger the sail, the more wind it catches. But as that size increases, so does the stress experienced by each sheet and line connected to the canvas.
The same thing can be said for a heart with mitral valve prolapse (MVP); as the diseased valve enlarges, the cords connected to the heart tissue feel stress and respond accordingly with stiffness and scarring.
As a common degenerative heart disease, MVP affects 2-3% of the U.S. population, or 1 in 40 people. It's characterized by enlarged heart tissue and billowing of the mitral valve into the left atrium, according to the AHA. While it is often considered benign, physicians are careful to watch for mitral regurgitation, which is when the mitral valve doesn't close properly and allows blood to leak backwards through it. Once MVP progresses to that stage, surgery is often required. If left untreated, it can result in a heart attack, stroke or sudden cardiac death.
While only a tenth of patients with MVP are likely to need surgery, waiting until regurgitation symptoms occur might result in too much irreversible scarring, or fibrosis, in the heart, according to Chip Norris, Ph.D. Too much fibrosis can result in stiff tissue and a heart that struggles to pump despite surgical intervention.
"It appears the fibrosis occurring in the myocardium is already established at the time of surgery," Morningstar said. "And it brings into question whether we need to be performing earlier surgical intervention in these patients in order to prevent the scarring from happening."
He also suggests surgeons performing any kind of valve procedures should look for scarring in both the wall of the left ventricle. "These findings show us that mitral valve prolapse is a disease of both the valve as well as the ventricle," Norris said.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
I had a murmur as a child that I grew out of, but my doctor found I had a slight murmur at my last physical, so I’m looking forward to my next physical to see what change occurred.
16 years after getting a prosthetic MV for this issue. Navy surgeon did a great job. PC who never listened to my heart before that not so much.
I was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) back in 1990 after starting a physical workout. WARNING! If you are going to start a gym exercise program GET A HEART CHECKUP FIRST! I did not.
Half way through, I blew out my mitral valve. I did not know it till I had an accident which needed surgery and they found the mitral valve problem. They said the heart condition was such they would not operate on me for the other till I had the heart problem repaired.
X-rays showed my heart was more than twice the size of a normal heart, so to surgery I went.
I received a Omniscience valve which still requires me to take large doses of warfarin. It was NOT the Bjork-Shiley valve which had a reputation for breaking. Now there are even better valves.
A year after the surgery an X-ray showed my heart had shrunk back to it’s normal size. That was thirty two years ago.
That is amazing to hear. You got through a hard time and your heart went back to normal, due to the valve.
I have not heard such a large reversal was possible. Your heart, with the same new valve, works fine in your healthy reduced size, too.
Did they find fibrosis? I guess it couldn’t have mattered much, because you are great, 32 years later.
You are definitely a great example of what proper care can bring. Thank you for sharing.
bkmk
***Did they find fibrosis?***
Nothing was said about fibrosis.
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