Recently diagnosed? Do your heart a favor—learn all you can.
Mitral valve regurgitation is a condition that deserves to be monitored and taken seriously. Taking steps to manage it can greatly improve your quality of life. Understanding your diagnosis—and learning about more about it—will give your heart a fighting chance.
Medical advancements in valve disease
Minimally-invasive options. More peace of mind.
You don’t have to confront this alone. When you’re faced with complex medical issues such as heart disease, having the right resources at your fingertips can make all the difference. From evidence-based articles to ShareMD nurses, who are ready to talk for free—our goal is to provide you with everything you’ll need to feel confident in the choices you make.
Know the facts
What does “minimally invasive” mean for mitral valve regurgitation?
There are many factors in play that heart valve specialists consider when evaluating which procedure is best for a patient. If you have severe mitral regurgitation and open heart surgery is out of the question, there may be a less invasive option—meaning less surgery, time spent in the hospital, or recovery time. This includes procedures like TEER (Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair), also known as TMVr (Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair). Both are viable alternatives to open heart surgery. Because every case is unique, we’ll discuss all treatment options, and make sure you have the right team to help you feel great about your decision moving forward.
Having the right team matters
Choose a heart team who cares about what you care about.
If you have moderate or severe mitral regurgitation, you’ll want a complete team on your side. A comprehensive heart valve team consists of interventional cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, imaging specialists, and registered nurses. This team will monitor symptoms, help select appropriate procedures, coordinate tests, and perform your surgery. Making sure you have a team who listens to your concerns and answers your questions is critical to the success of your treatment.
Don’t let symptoms keep you down
Symptoms can be misleading. How can you know for sure?
Mitral regurgitation symptoms can be complex, misleading and often tricky to keep up with. In some instances you might disregard a symptom as a sign of aging or just a nagging ailment. It’s extremely important to notate any and all changes and relay the information to your doctors. It very well might be nothing, but it very well could be your body communicating that your situation is worsening. The more your team of doctors are aware, the easier it is for them to access, diagnose, treat, and provide peace of mind.
If you’re wondering
Educating yourself about options to treat mitral valve regurgitation will make you a more informed patient. Here are some commonly asked questions you may find helpful.