Mitral Valve Prolapse

Symptoms

For most people with mitral valve prolapse (MVP), the effect on the heart is minor, and they have no symptoms.

Some people with MVP tell their doctors that they have shortness of breath, chest pain, or heart palpitations.¹ These are not proven symptoms of mitral valve prolapse. Many experts believe that such symptoms may be related to anxiety that people feel after being told they have a heart valve problem or that the symptoms may be caused by another heart condition.²

Certain body features are associated with MVP. These include:

• Low body weight.
• Low blood pressure.
• Flat rib cage.
• Straight back.
• Loose joints.
• Long arms, fingers, and toes.

In rare cases, people who develop severe mitral valve regurgitation may have symptoms of heart failure (such as shortness of breath, fluid buildup, and fatigue) or symptoms of arrhythmia (such as lightheadedness and weakness).

There are other conditions that have symptoms similar to MVP, including other heart valve conditions that cause similar abnormal heart sounds.

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Author:	Robin Parks, MS	Last Updated: February 20, 2007
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology
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