Is mild mitral regurgitation a disease?

Written by Chen Tian Hua
Cardiology
Updated on February 09, 2025
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Mild mitral regurgitation can be caused by diseases or it can also be seen in healthy individuals. In healthy people, as age increases, the valve may experience some aging, leading to mild regurgitation. This mild mitral regurgitation is not considered a pathological condition and does not require treatment. Of course, mild mitral regurgitation can also be seen in some organic heart diseases, most commonly due to heart enlargement caused by various diseases leading to relative mild mitral regurgitation. For mild mitral regurgitation caused by diseases, it is important to effectively treat the related diseases to maintain stability of the condition, to prevent the disease from worsening and causing the heart to enlarge further, leading to more severe mitral regurgitation.

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Written by Xie Zhi Hong
Cardiology
1min 11sec home-news-image

The reason for the formation of mitral stenosis pear-shaped heart

The heart undergoes a contraction cycle that begins once the ejection from the previous cycle is complete, necessitating the relaxation of the heart. As the heart relaxes, the mitral valve opens to allow blood to flow from the atrium to the ventricle, preparing for the next heartbeat. In patients with severe mitral stenosis, a significant reduction in the return volume of blood to the heart occurs. This reduction diminishes the pumping action of the ventricle, leading to disuse atrophy of the left ventricle. Normally, the left ventricle is relatively large and capable of maintaining a normal heart shape. When the left ventricle atrophies, it results in the heart having a flatter, more rounded apex, leading to a pear-shaped heart. If the ventricles are unable to efficiently reclaim blood, the load on the left atrium increases. Consequently, the left atrium enlarges, appearing larger at the top and smaller at the bottom in an X-ray, resembling a pear. This is how a pear-shaped heart is formed.

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Written by Chen Tian Hua
Cardiology
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Is mild mitral regurgitation a disease?

Mild mitral regurgitation can be caused by diseases or it can also be seen in healthy individuals. In healthy people, as age increases, the valve may experience some aging, leading to mild regurgitation. This mild mitral regurgitation is not considered a pathological condition and does not require treatment. Of course, mild mitral regurgitation can also be seen in some organic heart diseases, most commonly due to heart enlargement caused by various diseases leading to relative mild mitral regurgitation. For mild mitral regurgitation caused by diseases, it is important to effectively treat the related diseases to maintain stability of the condition, to prevent the disease from worsening and causing the heart to enlarge further, leading to more severe mitral regurgitation.

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Written by Xie Zhi Hong
Cardiology
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Why is there a murmur during diastole in mitral stenosis?

The mitral valve is a one-way piston valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle. Generally, once the ventricle completes a contraction and ejects blood, it immediately begins to relax, at which time the mitral valve opens to allow blood from the atrium into the left ventricle. When the mitral valve is severely narrowed, the blood from the atrium cannot pass through the mitral valve into the left ventricle in a timely manner. At this time, the blood flow speed at the mitral orifice increases, forming turbulence, which results in the appearance of diastolic murmurs.

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Written by Zeng Xian Fu
General Surgery
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Lifespan after mitral valve surgery

Mitral valve surgery includes mitral valve repair and mitral valve replacement repair. The life expectancy after mitral valve surgery is directly related to the patient's preoperative heart function. Patients with poor heart function or poor physical condition have worse prognoses after surgery. If the preoperative heart function and cardiac quality are good and the surgery is timely, the prognosis can be good, even reaching normal life expectancy. Conversely, if the preoperative heart function is poor and the overall physical condition is not good, the prognosis tends to be worse due to the patient's physical state. In general, the earlier the detection and the more timely the surgery, the better the prognosis. Therefore, if there is any growth, it is necessary to seek medical attention promptly.

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Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
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Is severe mitral valve regurgitation serious?

Mitral valve regurgitation can be mild, moderate, or severe, with severe mitral valve regurgitation being the most serious. Over time, severe mitral valve regurgitation can cause enlargement of the heart and a decreased heart pumping function, eventually leading to symptoms of heart failure. Patients may experience difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, fatigue, and other symptoms. Additionally, there may be swelling in both lower limbs. When such symptoms occur, it is necessary to take diuretic medications under the guidance of a doctor to reduce heart strain, such as furosemide or spironolactone. If necessary, digoxin may be taken to strengthen the heart and improve symptoms of heart failure. After stabilization, a mitral valve replacement or repair surgery may be scheduled.