Mitral valve regurgitation

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Definition Symptoms Causes Risk factors When to seek medical advice

Tests and diagnosis Complications Treatments and drugs Prevention Lifestyle and home remedies

Definition

Mitral valve regurgitation — or mitral regurgitation — is a condition in which your heart's mitral valve doesn't close tightly, which allows blood to flow backward in your heart. Mitral valve regurgitation is also called mitral insufficiency, or mitral incompetence.

When the mitral valve doesn't function properly, blood can't move through your heart or to the rest of your body as efficiently. The condition can leave you fatigued and short of breath. As many as one in five people over age 55 has some degree of mitral valve regurgitation.

Treatment of mitral valve regurgitation depends on the severity and progression of your condition and signs and symptoms. For mild cases, treatment may not be necessary. You may need heart surgery to repair or replace the valve for more severe cases. Left unchecked, severe mitral valve regurgitation can lead to heart failure or serious heart rhythm irregularities (arrhythmias).

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Symptoms