Three signs your mitral regurgitation is getting worse
By ShareMD Connect
If left untreated, severe mitral regurgitation can initiate a cascade of events leading to heart failure and there’s a 57% chance of death within one year.
Feeling comfortable and confident with your care team is a critical part of a successful treatment plan. Not only could a second opinion change your treatment plan, it could actually change your diagnosis. And it will definitely give you peace of mind. Here are five signs that you should get a second opinion about your mitral regurgitation.
1. Your echocardiogram shows that your heart is changing and/or weakening
If you have mild to moderate mitral regurgitation you’ll probably get serial echocardiograms every 1-3 years to check on the progression of your disease. A clear indicator that your disease has worsened is that your test results show changes in your heart. You may find that the heart has begun remodeling itself or it’s losing function.
As mitral regurgitation gets worse your heart begins to remodel itself. It has to work harder to pump enough blood to the body. The extra effort causes the left lower heart ventricle and left atrium to enlarge and get weaker. This change should be visible on your echocardiogram and indicates that your disease may be getting worse.
Your echocardiogram could also show that your heart is losing function. If your ejection fraction (that’s the rate at which your heart is pumping blood back out into the body) has decreased, it could be a sign that your mitral regurgitation has gotten worse.
2. Symptoms have appeared or worsened
With mitral regurgitation, symptoms may change so slowly that you may not realize they’re starting or getting worse. It’s not unusual for people to get used to their symptoms and think “this isn’t a big deal.” But the reality is that ongoing or worsening symptoms of mitral regurgitation could be a sign that your disease has progressed.
Symptoms can include:
- Heart palpitations or feelings of a fluttering heart or skipped heart beats
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Extreme fatigue or weakness
- Trouble exercising because you’re getting winded easily
- Swelling, especially in the legs and feet
If you or your loved ones are noticing that it’s getting harder for you to do everyday activities because of your symptoms, it’s time to talk to your cardiologist. It’s very important to keep track of your symptoms so that you can give your cardiologist as much information as possible. Use this checklist to help keep your thoughts organized.
3. You’ve started to experience signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure
Once your disease progresses, you may begin to experience signs or symptoms of congestive heart failure. Blood begins to back up, fluid enters the lungs, and serious symptoms may begin to appear. These can occur suddenly or slowly over a few weeks time.
Congestive heart failure signs and symptoms may include:
- Shortness of breath with minimal activity (for example, showering or walking in your home)
- Inability to lie flat due to trouble breathing (this is called orthopnea)
- Progressive fatigue and weakness
- Swelling in the legs, ankles and feet (this is called edema)
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Persistent cough or wheezing
- Swelling of the belly area (abdomen)
- Very rapid weight gain from fluid buildup (more than 5 lbs per week)
- Nausea and lack of appetite
- Chest pain if heart failure is caused by a heart attack
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms contact your doctor immediately as your disease may have progressed significantly.
Mitral regurgitation is a generally progressive disease. Keeping up with your routine tests and monitoring your symptoms are important steps to make sure that you're managing your disease effectively and giving yourself the best chance of living a long, good quality of life.