<h1>Mitral Valve Prolapse: Is It The Valve or Something Else?</h1>

Each time your heart beats, it fills with blood and then pumps the blood out, either to the lungs to get oxygen or out to the body after getting oxygen from the lungs. The heart has valves that allow blood to flow between the four chambers. When those valves don't work properly, blood doesn't flow where it needs to go and this causes a variety of issues.

One common problem when the mitral valve doesn't work right is called mitral regurgitation, backflow of blood through the mitral valve. In this case,  the flaps of the mitral valve fail to close together just right, allowing blood to leak backward into the upper atrium (chamber). Another common valve problem is stenosis.  Stenosis means that the valve tissue has thickened or becomes stiff, which also interferes with proper opening and closing, and can block or limit blood flow through the heart and to the rest of the body.

Both regurgitation and stenosis can lead to symptoms like lightheadedness, improper blood flow to and from the extremities, and other things, However, sometimes when there are symptoms of regurgitation or stenosis but it's not clear what's really going on, these symptoms get termed MVP syndrome or 'mitral valve prolapse syndrome'. This 'syndrome'  is often actually describing an autonomic disorder such as dysautonomia, in which a dysfunctioning autonomic nervous system is causing the improper blood flow, valve operation and other malfunctions.

On a positive note, many autonomic disorders can be treated with a variety of natural, non-surgical methods and often with very good results. So, if you're having symptoms of MVP, the most important thing to assess is whether the valve(s) are actually damaged or malfunctioning in a way that absolutely requires surgery--or is it something that is more related to the autonomic nervous system that needs to be addressed in a different way? In almost every case, if you have MVP syndrome or related symptoms,  it makes sense to get a second opinion from an MVP syndrome doctor before having the surgery. 

Dr. Paula Moore and Dr. Susan Phillips at Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC Birmingham, AL are experts at helping accurately diagnose dysautonomia, POTS and other related conditions, and they can help you get that qualified second opinion that may keep you from having to have surgery and help you get better faster. Call today for an appointment at 205-286-3200. You'll be very glad you did.

Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC
Accurate Diagnosis & Treatment for Better Results
2470 Rocky Ridge Road Vestavia Hills, Alabama 35243
http://www.mvpctr.com
(205) 286-3200