Please share an interesting fact about living with mitral valve prolapse.

Ignore: Antibiotics no longer recommended before medical/ dental procedures to prevent endocarditits by ama.

Ignore: For most people mitral prolapse is asymptomatic and requires only good life habits.

Ignore: It's extremely common and its an over diagnose condition. You can live a perfect normal life with it.

Ignore: Avoid stimulants: caffeine, alcohol, decongestants such as pseudoephedrine. Usually labeled 'd'.

Ignore: Avoid all stimulants such as caffeine, alcohol, or nicotine to lessen the occurrence of palpitations.

Ignore: Occasional chest pain and palpitations have been reported -- and can be treated.

Ignore: The prevalence of MVP is estimated at 2-3% of the population.Most people with MVP lead healthy lives.

Remember: Remember that the huge majority of patients with mitral valve prolapse NEVER experience any problems.

Not usually problem: MVP is a very common cardiovascular finding prevalent in patients without symptoms. The Dx is often made incidentally, but found when assessing atypical chest discomfort, palpitations, a murmur or other unusual heart sound, anxiety or panic attacks. If not bothersome, the usual benign nature of MVP usually does not warrant treatment. If needed, low dose beta-blockers or anti-anxiety Rx can be used.

Ignore: Symptoms with MVP are most likely when you are volume-depleted, or mentally/physically stressed.

Live normally: There are no restrictions in people with mitral valve prolapse. Depending on the degree of mitral leak with your valve you may or may not need prophylactic antibiotics for dental or major surgical procedures. Usually not since majority of people have little or moderate leak. A regular exam maybe once a year and an echocardiogram every 2 years or more will be sufficient for asymptomatic people.

Ignore: Antibiotics for prophylaxis is almost never required anymore.

Ignore: Most people with mild MVP are ok, with no long term issues.

Ignore: Most of the persons with mvp live there life without any clinical problems.

Knowledge: Knowledge of the condition is the best ammunition to fight the panic attacks.

Once: Once you learn that it is not life threatening, much of the fear goes away.

Your: Your doctor may prescribe a mild sedative to have on hand.

More: More women have this condition than men.

MVP: MVP is a partial failure of one of your heart valves.

The: The Mitral valve may have developed a slight fold which causes the valve to not fully close.

With: With MVP, the heart regurgitates un-refreshed blood into the oxygenated flow.

Working: Working out may not improve your cardiovascular condition, but it will make you feel much better.

Because: Because of your condition a serious but curable infection can occur.

Antibiotics: Antibiotics will be required to prevent an infection before any dental work or procedures.

"Prophylactic": "Prophylactic" antibiotic before dental work are for your protection.

The: The mitral valve, in the left side of your heart, is an exit gate leading out of the lower ventricle.

The: The mitral valve only has two leaflets, instead of three, like other heart valves.

MVP: MVP is when the mitral valve closes but the leaflets billow backward into the upper atrium.

The: The mitral valve is also known as the bicuspid valve.

Mitral: Mitral valve prolapse can cause mitral valve regurgitation.

When: When MVP is symptomatic, the signs your body sends you are similar to the warnings of heart disease.

With: With MVP, you may feel tired or dizzy for no clear reason, have headaches.

With: With MVP you may experience sudden drops in blood pressure when you stand.

Your: Your own heartbeat may seem eerily noticeable.

Your: Your heart may feel like it's beating a mile a minute even if you're resting.

Like: Like with heart disease, you may feel pain or tightness in your chest.

Men: Men age 50 and up are most likely to have serious symptoms.

It: It occurs as often in men as it does in women.

MVP: MVP may not cause you any trouble whatsoever.

The: The majority of people with MVP lead perfectly healthy, happy lives.

The: The main worry is that if the leaflets bulge out, blood will regurgitate into the atrium.

Sometimes: Sometimes prolapsed leaflets still form a tight seal and prevent blood from leaking.

If: If there is leakage, it will probably produce a small murmur that your doctor can detect.

With: With no major symptoms, doctors will keep tabs on the condition throughout your lifetime.

A: A symptom-free condition won't take a single day off your life.

Arrhythmias: Arrhythmias are often the result of regurgitation and usually affect the heart's upper chambers.

One: One symptom of MVP is the development of arrhythmias.

Sometimes,: Sometimes, an arrhythmia occurs in the form of atrial fibrillation.

If: If you have MVP and feel an unusual heartbeat, it doesn't mean you're going to die.

If: If you have an effective seal against leakage, it's unlikely that you'll experience arrhythmias.

Some: Some older patients have been found to have a higher chance of experiencing nonfatal arrhythmias.

MVP: MVP may increase the risk of stroke because blood pooling in the atrium may form clots.

­Mitral: ­Mitral valve prolapse makes a person more susceptible to infections.

When: When the surface of the valve gets infected, it causes a condition known as infective endocarditis.

If: If left untreated, endocarditis is fatal.

Some: Some recent studies have shown taking antibiotics before Procedures may not be needed.

When: When severe, mitral regurgitation can lead to heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms.

Anxiety,: Anxiety, panic attacks, and depression may be associated with mitral valve prolapse.

Migraine: Migraine headaches have been occasionally linked to mitral valve prolapse.

Mitral: Mitral valve prolapse may be rarely associated with strokes occurring in young patients.

Echocardiography: Echocardiography (ultrasound imaging of the heart) is the most useful test for mitral valve prolapse.

Echocardiography: Echocardiography can measure the severity of prolapse and the degree of mitral regurgitation.

Valve: Valve infection is called endocarditis and is a very rare, but potentially serious.

Beta: Beta Blockers are often the drug of choice for treatment of MVP.

In: In very rare cases, surgery (mitral valve replacement or repair) may be required.

Patients: Patients who require surgery usually have severe mitral regurge causing worsening heart failure.

Mitral: Mitral valve repair is preferable, if possible, to mitral valve replacement.

Mitral: Mitral valve repair is preferable, if possible, to mitral valve replacement.

After: After mitral valve repair, blood thinning medications are unnecessary.

Because: Because of the success of valve repair, it's being performed earlier in patients with mitral regurge.

Rare: Rare patients with mitral valve prolapse may suffer strokes because of increased blood clotting.

Only: Only a very small minority of patients go on to need surgery or other aggressive therapies.

Ignore: Nowadays there is a procedure to reduce some valve leaks with placing a valve clip without surgery.

Ignore: Always practice good dental hygiene ie brush your teeth, floss frequently and see dentist regularly.

Ignore: MVP is variable in patients. Chocolate and other dietary issues are myths. Antibiotics are not need.

Ignore: For most with MVP, the condition is a variant of normal with no symptoms. Rare cases are severe.

Ignore: Mitral valve prolapse may be totally asymptomatic or can cause a myriad of symptoms!!!

Ignore: Make sure the diagnosis is accurate. Mitral valve prolapse has been hopelessly over-diagnosed.