Nowadays due to our fast life and consumption of adulterated and fast food, people are becoming more prone to heart diseases. One such condition is Mitral Valve Stenosis which is a heart disease that takes place when the mitral valve in one’s heart becomes narrow or gets a blockage affecting the proper heart functioning. We will discuss the condition with its symptoms and treatments below.
What Is Mitral Valve Stenosis?
Mitral stenosis is a heart disease in which one of the four valves in a heart gets a certain blockage or becomes narrow due to certain factors. This narrowing down of the valve can affect the heartbeat and increase the pressure on the heart’s other valves to perform its task. It can hinder the flow of blood in the left side of the heart and make it harder for the heart to perform well.
Such a condition is not treated initially can develop or worsen further can cause heart attack and death. It is usually a result of infection or allergic conditions but can also occur due to an immune reaction in the elderly. There are four valves in a heart, the mitral valve functions to keep the proper flowing of blood from the left atrium to the left ventricle. As the blood passes from the left ventricle, the flap in a valve closes to obstruct blood from flowing backwards. An affected valve will disrupt the opening and closing function.
Women are most commonly affected by heart conditions than men. While many children may have this since birth due to a hereditary situation.
What Are Its Symptoms?
Symptoms of low or moderate Mitral Valve Stenosis may not show at all. While the condition develops slowly, the symptoms may start appearing after a decade. However, if the condition has grown certain signs may include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Strokes
- Coughing blood
- Swelling in body majorly in feet and abdomen
- Fluid accumulation in lungs
- Fatigue
Children who are born with the condition may show signs as:
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty in feeding
- Respiratory infections
- Slowed Growth
Due to the pressure in the heart due to improper functioning of the left valve, the heart may send the pressure to the lung during the blood flow resulting in difficulty breathing. Further, the worsening of this condition can also be affected by pregnancy or certain exercises.
Treatments
There is no cure for Mitral stenosis, however, it can be managed. Medical science does proffer certain treatments and medications for managing the condition. Some of these are:
- Valve Replacement by using an animal valve or an artificial valve made up of steel or plastic
- Medication
- Minimally invasive surgery
- Balloon valvotomy
- Catheter-based procedures: this follows the insertion of a device attached with a thread inside the artery to either repair or replace the valve.
Conclusion
The condition can be diagnosed by several medical systems. The recovery time of the patient will depend upon the kind of treatment done.