(no subject)
It's official. I DO have it.
What is mitral valve prolapse?
Your mitral valve is one of four valves that regulate blood flow in your heart. The valve is like a one-way gate. It allows blood to flow in only one direction, from the upper to the lower heart chambers (from the left atrium to the left ventricle).
Normally the mitral valve closes after blood flows through it. The closure keeps blood from leaking back into the upper chamber (left atrium).
If you have mitral valve prolapse (MVP), the valve flaps bulge backwards (prolapse) into the upper chamber.
Usually, the effect on your heart is minor because the seal between the two heart chambers remains tight enough to prevent leakage.
If the flaps don't seal tightly enough, however, blood could leak back into the left atrium. This is called mitral valve regurgitation. In most cases of mitral valve prolapse, this leakage doesn't happen.
Mitral valve prolapse has also been called floppy valve syndrome, Barlow's syndrome, and click-murmur syndrome.
What is mitral valve prolapse?
Your mitral valve is one of four valves that regulate blood flow in your heart. The valve is like a one-way gate. It allows blood to flow in only one direction, from the upper to the lower heart chambers (from the left atrium to the left ventricle).
Normally the mitral valve closes after blood flows through it. The closure keeps blood from leaking back into the upper chamber (left atrium).
If you have mitral valve prolapse (MVP), the valve flaps bulge backwards (prolapse) into the upper chamber.
Usually, the effect on your heart is minor because the seal between the two heart chambers remains tight enough to prevent leakage.
If the flaps don't seal tightly enough, however, blood could leak back into the left atrium. This is called mitral valve regurgitation. In most cases of mitral valve prolapse, this leakage doesn't happen.
Mitral valve prolapse has also been called floppy valve syndrome, Barlow's syndrome, and click-murmur syndrome.