What should I do if I have mild mitral valve regurgitation?

Written by Chen Tian Hua
Cardiology
Updated on March 27, 2025
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Mild mitral valve regurgitation is observed and further investigation is needed to understand the causes of this condition.

If mild mitral valve regurgitation occurs in a healthy individual, it is primarily due to physiological degeneration of the mitral valve, generally does not lead to adverse consequences, and does not require special treatment.

If it is caused by diseases that lead to an enlarged heart, resulting in relative mild mitral valve regurgitation, this situation necessitates active treatment of the underlying diseases to effectively control the condition, prevent further enlargement of the heart, exacerbate the degree of mitral valve regurgitation, and thus adversely affect health.

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Written by Di Zhi Yong
Cardiology
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Can mitral valve regurgitation be detected by imaging?

Mitral stenosis is a type of heart valve disease. It may be congenital heart disease or rheumatic heart disease, depending on individual differences. It is recommended that patients go to the hospital for a cardiac ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis, as X-rays cannot differentiate between mitral regurgitation and mitral stenosis. This condition requires a cardiac ultrasound for diagnosis. If patients experience symptoms like palpitations, chest tightness, or difficulty breathing during this period, these issues need to be actively managed. Generally, positive inotropic agents are used to alleviate the current condition of the patient and achieve relief, while also ensuring regular follow-up visits at the hospital.

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Written by Di Zhi Yong
Cardiology
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Why does mitral regurgitation decrease during inspiration?

If the patient has a history of mitral valve regurgitation, this condition can lead to changes in heart function, particularly symptoms like palpitations and difficulty breathing. If the symptoms decrease during inhalation, this might be caused by abnormally low pressure in the left ventricle or left atrium. Since this is a pathological change, it is currently recommended that the patient actively use medication and control changes in heart function. If the condition worsens, sometimes surgical treatment is advised as it can also serve a therapeutic purpose.

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Written by Di Zhi Yong
Cardiology
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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.

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Written by Xie Zhi Hong
Cardiology
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Can mitral valve insufficiency be detected on a chest radiograph?

Mitral valve insufficiency is characterized by an enlarged heart, and a blowing murmur can be heard during mitral valve systole through auscultation. Therefore, in chest X-ray examinations, an enlargement of the left lower cardiac border can be observed. Some severe cases may exhibit pulmonary artery hypertension, indicated by a prominent pulmonary artery segment; additionally, patients with heart failure may show increased pulmonary blood flow, all of which aid in the diagnosis of mitral valve insufficiency. However, this is not the definitive diagnosis, which should be determined through echocardiography. Especially through Doppler imaging, the enlargement of heart structures, the mosaic blood flow caused by mitral valve insufficiency, and changes in blood flow speed and direction can be clearly diagnosed. Therefore, the primary diagnostic tool for mitral valve insufficiency is not the chest X-ray, which only shows indirect signs, but echocardiography.

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Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
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How does mitral valve insufficiency lead to heart failure?

Mitral valve regurgitation can easily lead to heart failure, especially left heart failure. This is because, when there is moderate or severe mitral regurgitation, the left ventricle contracts, and a large amount of blood in the left ventricle flows back into the left atrium. When the ventricle relaxes and fills again, the volume of blood in the left ventricle significantly increases, leading to an overload in the capacity of the left ventricle. Over time, this causes left ventricular hypertrophy, a decline in the heart's pumping function, and thus, heart failure occurs. In terms of symptoms, it presents as exertional dyspnea and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, among other symptoms. When these symptoms occur, it is necessary to go to the hospital for proper examination and treatment, and to take diuretic medications under the guidance of a doctor to improve the symptoms.