Mitral stenosis is a heart disease that happens when the opening of the mitral valve narrows. A Mitral valve is present between the left atrium and ventricle of the heart. Narrowing results in reduced blood flow, leaving the person all tired and short of breathing. Before things get out of hand, one must consult with the best cardiologist and do as directed.
To better understand this health condition, you should be aware of the details. Let us discuss what mitral valve stenosis is and how one can get it, and what you should do if you encounter this heart health condition.
What is Mitral Stenosis?
There is a layer present between the left atrium and left ventricle of the heart called the Mitral Valve. When this valve narrows, it restricts the regular flow of blood, which leads to health issues like fatigue, breathlessness, and tiredness. If not treated on time, the condition can worsen and lead to complications.
Mitral Stenosis Causes
Here are some of the common causes of heart disease:-
- Calcium Deposits: With increasing age, calcium can accumulate and deposit along with your valve, leading to this heart health condition.
- Radiation Therapy: There are ailments that require radiation therapy as their treatment. The use of radiation across the chest area can lead to this health condition.
- Rheumatic Fever: Strep throat complications can lead to rheumatic fever, which eventually causes narrowing of the valve. These symptoms may not even get recognized for years.
- Congenital Defect: There are situations when babies are born with this defect; the situation gets worst over time.
Signs And Symptoms
Common signs and symptoms that can help determine if you have the situation are:
- Shortness of breath even when you are lying down.
- Swollen ankles, especially in the mornings
- Sudden heart palpitations make you go on your nerves.
- Strep throat, which might as well gives blood-stained mucus.
- The feeling of fatigue all the time
If you see some or any of these symptoms, you may be suffering from mitral valve stenosis and need to get in touch with your doctor soon.
Mitral Stenosis Treatment
Once the condition gets into a complicated state, replacement of the valve is the only option left. You should get in touch with your doctor and start with the diagnosis on time. your doctor will ask you to do the following tests:
- Electrocardiogram
- X-ray of the chest
- TEE (transesophageal echocardiogram)
- TTE (transthoracic echocardiogram)
After carefully analyzing the reports of these tests, the doctor recommends whether you need surgery to repair or replace the valve. In the replacement surgery, the doctor will replace the damaged valve with a tissue or mechanical valve. People that go for the mechanical valves take medicines for their entire life to reduce the chances of clots forming near it.
Now that you are well aware of this heart disease, you should take the necessary steps to prevent the disease. Do not let rheumatic fever happen and opt for healthy lifestyle practices to never get the disease. If you still get the ailment, get in touch with the best cardiologist for better medical assistance.
