What is mitral valve prolapse?

Mitral valve prolapse, or MVP, is a type of heart valve disease that occurs when the mitral valve, one of the heart’s four valves, becomes floppy and does not close properly. This can allow blood to leak backward from the left ventricle (the lower chamber of the heart) to the left atrium (the upper chamber).

Mitral valve prolapse is usually harmless and affects 2% to 3% of Americans. It often causes no symptoms, and you might only find out you have it when your doctor hears certain sounds when listening to your heart during a routine checkup.

However, mitral valve prolapse can prevent your heart from working as efficiently as it should. Treating the condition can help prevent serious long-term complications.

Types of mitral valve prolapse

Mitral valve prolapse is sometimes known as click-murmur syndrome, Barlow’s syndrome or floppy valve syndrome. It can be divided into two main types based on how it affects the heart and valves.

Types of mitral valve prolapse include:

  • Primary MVP: One or both flaps of tissue become thick, scarred or damaged in another way. It often develops in the absence of another heart issue.
  • Secondary MVP: Prolapse develops due to a lack of oxygen or damage to the heart muscle or valves. It’s usually related to another heart condition.
doctor explaining mitral valve prolapse to a patient

Mitral valve prolapse symptoms

Most people with mitral valve prolapse do not notice any symptoms, and it’s often diagnosed during a routine physical exam when your doctor hears a heart murmur or clicking sounds.

If you experience symptoms of mitral valve prolapse, they may include:

  • Anxiety or panic attacks
  • Chest discomfort or pain
  • Dizziness
  • Fainting
  • Fatigue
  • Feeling tired or out of breath quickly
  • Heart palpitations
  • Migraines
  • Mood changes
  • Shortness of breath
  • Sudden drop in blood pressure when standing up

When to see a doctor

See your doctor if you experience symptoms that suggest mitral valve prolapse. You should also see your doctor for annual checkups, which allow your doctor to perform regular heart-health screenings that can detect mitral valve prolapse before symptoms develop.

Mitral valve prolapse causes

Your mitral valve is located between your left atrium and your left ventricle. Valves have a series of flaps, or “leaflets,” that allow the valves to open and close as your heart pumps blood. When the mitral valve opens, blood flows from the atrium to the ventricle. It then closes to allow the atrium to refill.

With mitral valve prolapse, the mitral valve’s flaps flop or sag back into your left atrium. This can allow blood to flow backward, which is called regurgitation or backflow.

Mitral valve prolapse is commonly caused by myxomatous valve disease, which causes abnormal stretching and weakness in the valve’s flaps. Myxomatous valve disease may be genetic.

Mitral valve prolapse can also be caused by connective tissue disorders.

Mitral valve prolapse risk factors

Anyone can have mitral valve prolapse, and it often runs in families. Symptoms are more likely to develop after age 50 and affect men more than women, although more women than men have mitral valve prolapse.

Researchers have also identified certain conditions that are associated with or may increase the risk of mitral valve prolapse. Those include:

  • Connective tissue disorders: These conditions may cause tissue degeneration in the mitral valve. They include Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Marfan syndrome and others.
  • Ebstein anomaly: This condition occurs at birth and causes problems with flaps in the tricuspid valve, another heart valve. It can also affect the mitral valve.
  • Graves’ disease: This autoimmune disorder has been found to worsen heart problems, and people with Graves’ disease often have mitral valve prolapse.
  • Rheumatic fever: A complication of certain infections, this condition can damage heart valves.

Complications

Mitral valve prolapse is rarely serious, but it can cause mitral valve regurgitation , a condition in which the flaps do not seal tightly and some of your blood flows backward from the left ventricle into the left atrium. Regurgitation prevents your heart from working as well as it should and can increase your risk for many other heart conditions, including irregular heartbeats (heart arrhythmias), heart attacks, strokes and heart failure.

Still, many people with mitral valve prolapse do not develop regurgitation or any related complications.

a picture of a stethoscope used by doctors to listen to the heart

Diagnosing mitral valve prolapse

Your doctor may find you have mitral valve prolapse during a routine health checkup. If you have symptoms or suspect you have a heart condition, they will examine you and order various tests and scans. You may be referred to a cardiologist, a doctor who specializes in the heart.

Mitral valve prolapse treatment

In most cases, mitral valve prolapse does not need treatment. If you don’t have symptoms, you may need only regular follow-up visits with your doctor so they can monitor your health. If you have symptoms, your doctor can give you medications to help control them.

You may need surgery if you develop mitral valve regurgitation or significant symptoms or if your condition affects your heart’s ability to function.

Lifestyle changes

Lifestyle changes can help improve your overall heart health and reduce your risk of complications related to mitral valve prolapse.

Your doctor may recommend:

  • Eating a healthy diet
  • Getting enough, high-quality sleep
  • Giving up tobacco if you smoke
  • Learning to manage stress

Your doctor may also suggest getting more physical activity, but athletes may need to limit their

Locations for mitral valve prolapse care

Trust our heart teams in North and Central Texas to help you understand your diagnosis and whether you need treatment for mitral valve prolapse. We can help you find the right level of care at the location best suited to your needs.

Frequently asked questions

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