What are the effects of a leaking mitral valve?

Depends: Minor leak: no problem more severe leak: puts heart muscle under stress and can cause heart failure with shortness of breath, swelling of the feet.

Depends: A mild amout of leak or "regurgitation" is common and has no real effect. More significant regurgitation can lead to heart failure. I often explain to my patients that with more significant regurgitation it is as if the heart takes one step forward and a half a step back with each beat. This can tire the muscle out over time.