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Mitral insufficiency
What to do about chronic cough due to mitral valve insufficiency?
If the patient exhibits mitral regurgitation, this condition falls under cardiac valvular diseases. If the patient frequently experiences coughing and expectorating phlegm, it indicates a certain level of inflammatory infection. It is recommended for the patient to undergo a chest CT scan for an effective confirmation of the cause, which will then determine the treatment plan. For simple mitral stenosis, symptomatic treatment is currently the primary approach, using medications to address heart failure or ischemia and hypoxia. Early treatment is advised to alleviate the current state of ischemia and hypoxia. Persistent coughing and expectorating phlegm indicate inflammation, necessitating the use of antibiotics.
Will mild mitral valve insufficiency become more severe?
If the patient has a history of mitral valve insufficiency, and if it is not treated timely, the condition will worsen. If the patient develops heart failure, sometimes it is necessary to actively correct the heart failure, because the most serious complication of this disease is heart failure, which is quite severe. Once the patient's heart function changes, especially if the ejection fraction decreases, it can lead to ischemic and hypoxic changes in the patient. In terms of treatment, it is also important to monitor the patient's blood pressure, heart rate, and pulse changes, while actively controlling the heart rate.
Why does the pulse pressure increase with mitral valve insufficiency?
Mitral valve regurgitation leading to an increased pulse pressure difference is a very common phenomenon, which is related to the condition of mitral valve regurgitation itself. This is because when the left ventricle is in systole, the incomplete closure of the mitral valve causes the blood in the left ventricle to flow back into the left atrium, significantly increasing the volume of blood in the left atrium. When the ventricle is in the diastolic filling phase, a large amount of blood from the left atrium enters the left ventricle. At the same time, the left ventricle receives blood from the left atrium as well as the blood remaining from the systolic phase of the ventricle, resulting in a significant increase in the volume of blood the ventricle pumps. This leads to a notable rise in systolic pressure, thereby increasing the pulse pressure difference.
How to treat calcification of mitral valve regurgitation?
Mitral valve regurgitation with calcification indicates the onset of calcification in this condition, though this alone does not necessarily indicate a problem. However, mitral valve regurgitation should still be actively treated. Early or mild cases can lead to pathological changes in the heart, particularly when there is excess pressure on the mitral valve, left ventricle, or left atrium. This may cause symptoms like palpitations, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing. Sometimes, medications to dilate blood vessels, strengthen the heart, and promote urination may be necessary to reduce cardiac load and improve symptoms.
Can mitral valve insufficiency cause angina?
Angina is caused by severe ischemia of the coronary arteries, leading to abnormal myocardial metabolism, which results in cardiac angina. Some people may also experience chest tightness, a burning sensation in the precordial area, or various other discomforts. Mitral valve regurgitation can reduce the effectiveness of ventricular ejection. Most cases of mild to moderate mitral valve regurgitation do not cause angina. However, severe mitral valve regurgitation, which causes most of the heart’s blood to flow back into the left atrium during contraction, can lead to reduced aortic blood supply. Once the reduction in aortic blood supply reaches a certain level, it may cause symptoms of angina. This is relatively rare, as most cases of mitral valve regurgitation typically present symptoms of cardiac failure such as breathlessness, difficulty breathing, and orthopnea.
Can mitral valve insufficiency be treated with interventional surgery?
If the condition of mitral valve regurgitation is not very severe, interventional surgery can be considered when the condition is under control. However, if the mitral valve regurgitation is accompanied by heart failure, especially chronic heart failure, and if cardiac function is not timely corrected, the patient may not tolerate the surgery, and there are certain risks associated with the operation. Because mitral valve regurgitation can lead to the formation of thrombi, particularly causing cerebral thrombosis or ischemic cerebrovascular diseases, it is important to actively monitor changes in the patient's heart rate, blood pressure, and pulse. If conditions such as tachycardia or elevated blood pressure occur, they need to be actively managed. If the disease is timely controlled, surgical treatment can be considered.
Is mild to moderate mitral valve regurgitation serious?
If the patient has a history of mitral valve insufficiency, especially in moderate cases, it is considered quite severe. The current treatment mainly focuses on symptomatic treatment to improve the patient's cardiopulmonary function. If the patient experiences palpitations, chest tightness, or difficulty breathing, sometimes intravenous therapy is required to alleviate the current condition. Because for congenital heart disease or rheumatic heart disease, the treatment primarily involves strengthening the heart, diuresis, vasodilation, symptomatic treatment, and management. If not treated and managed promptly, the disease could worsen, and the patient may also develop swelling in both lower limbs.
Mitral valve insufficiency can easily cause what kind of failure?
The most severe complication of mitral valve insufficiency is the occurrence of left-sided heart failure, or left and right heart failure, eventually leading to total heart failure. Since the mitral valve is a type of rheumatic heart disease and also a cardiac valve disorder, cardiac function is abnormal at this time. If this condition is not treated promptly, it will further lead to a decline in cardiac function, causing the occurrence of heart rate failure. Patients mainly exhibit symptoms of ischemia and hypoxia, as well as edema in both lower limbs and some situations of water and sodium retention. It is necessary to actively use cardiotonic diuretics to improve the patient's cardiac function.
Is mild mitral valve regurgitation a serious condition?
If the patient has a history of mitral valve insufficiency, it is recommended that they undergo a cardiac echocardiography to further clarify the diagnosis. Simple mitral valve insufficiency can present with rumbling murmurs in the precordial area, but it may also be accompanied by palpitations, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing. Sometimes, it is necessary to actively manage these symptoms by using positive inotropic drugs to improve the patient's cardiac function. If the patient exhibits swelling in both lower limbs, it may sometimes be necessary to use medications to manage this condition and alleviate the current symptoms. Dietary recommendations should also include a low-salt, low-fat, and low-sugar diet to help improve the symptoms.
Why does mitral valve insufficiency cause left heart failure?
Mitral valve insufficiency can lead to left heart failure, as it may cause excessive pressure in the left atrium and ventricle, leading to left heart failure. This condition is characterized by symptoms such as coughing up pink frothy sputum, feeling of heart palpitations, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing. This situation leads to an increased afterload on the heart, causing a series of symptoms. Therefore, mitral valve insufficiency can result in left heart failure, especially noticeable during the night with orthopnea and coughing up pink frothy sputum, which are typical clinical manifestations of left heart failure. The current treatment primarily focuses on symptomatic management, using medications such as cardiac glycosides and diuretics to improve symptoms. (Please use medication under the guidance of a physician.)