Mitral Stenosis Symptoms, Causes, And Treatment

Mitral Stenosis , or Mitral Valve Stenosis, is rare when the valve between two heart chambers on the left side narrows, making it hard for blood to flow correctly. This can make you feel tired and out of breath, and you might have other symptoms like irregular heartbeats, dizziness, chest pain, or coughing up blood. Sometimes, people don't feel any symptoms.

Mitral Stenosis Symptoms

• Shortness of breath : Feeling out of breath, especially during activity or when lying down.
• Fatigue: Feeling extremely tired, making it hard to do regular activities.
• Bronchitis: Getting lung infections more often than usual.
• Heart palpitations: Feeling your heart beating irregularly can happen when the upper chamber of your heart is under pressure.
• Stroke: Blood clots form in the heart and travel to the brain, causing a stroke.
• Coughing up blood: Blood in your cough can happen when there's pressure on the veins in your lungs.
• Hoarseness : Your voice may change with pressure on the nerve near your heart.
• Swelling: Fluid builds up in your belly, ankles, or feet because your heart struggles to pump correctly.

Symptoms in Children Born with Mitral Stenosis

• Difficulty feeding or sweating during feeding is a common sign in infants.
• Coughing, wheezing, or having trouble breathing.
• Slowed growth means they may be smaller or lighter than kids their age.
• Getting sick often with respiratory infections.
• Feeling out of breath, especially during activities, can tire them quickly.

Mitral Stenosis Pathophysiology

• The mitral valve controls blood flow between the heart's left atrium and ventricle.
• Blood flow is restricted when it narrows (stenosis), causing pressure differences.
• This pressure build-up can lead to conditions like pulmonary hypertension.
• The left atrium enlarges with time, increasing the risk of irregular heartbeats.
• Severe stenosis can result in heart failure and reduced cardiac output.
• Symptoms progress gradually, starting from mild signs to more severe heart issues.

Mitral Stenosis Causes

• Rheumatic Mitral Stenosis : When untreated strep throat leads to rheumatic fever, it can damage the mitral valve over time, causing it to narrow. This condition is rheumatic mitral valve disease; symptoms may not appear until years after the fever.
• Calcium Deposits: As you age, calcium deposits can build up around the mitral valve, a condition called mitral annular calcification (MAC). This buildup can narrow the valve, leading to symptoms of mitral stenosis. Severe MAC can be challenging to treat, even with surgery, and may affect the aortic valve as well.
• Radiation Therapy : Radiation treatment for certain cancers, especially in the chest area, can cause the mitral valve to thicken and harden over time. This damage typically occurs two to three decades after radiation therapy.
• Congenital Heart Defects : In rare cases, babies may be born with a narrowed mitral valve, which can cause problems as they grow older. These defects are present at birth and may be revealed as mitral valve stenosis later in life.
• Other Health Conditions: Conditions like lupus and other autoimmune disorders can occasionally contribute to the development of mitral valve stenosis, though this is rare.

Mitral  Stenosis Diagnosis

• Echocardiogram: This is the most common test. It uses ultrasound waves to create images of the heart's structure and function, allowing the doctor to see the condition of the mitral valve.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): This test measures the heart's electrical activity by placing electrodes on the chest. It can detect irregular heart rhythms associated with mitral valve stenosis.
• Chest X-ray: X-rays are taken to visualize the heart and lungs. Changes in the shape or size of the heart due to mitral valve stenosis can be seen on the X-ray.
• Cardiac Catheterization: In this procedure, a thin tube is inserted into a blood vessel and guided to the heart. It helps measure pressures inside the heart chambers and checks the severity of mitral valve stenosis.

Mitral Stenosis Stages

• The stages of mitral valve stenosis are described in the points below
• Mitral valve stenosis is categorized into stages A to D.
• Each stage indicates the severity of the condition, with stage D being the most severe.
• Healthcare providers monitor the condition to detect irregularities in the appearance or function of the mitral valve.
• Stages C and D are associated with severe problems, but symptoms typically don't appear until stage D.

Mitral Stenosis Treatment

• Catheter-Based Procedures: During these procedures, a doctor puts a thin tube, called a catheter, into an artery in your body. They guide it up to your heart to repair or swap out your valve.
• Valvuloplasty: A catheter with a balloon on the end is used to widen the narrowed area of your mitral valve.
• Valve Replacement: Sometimes, a valve can be replaced using a catheter. This is known as transcatheter mitral valve replacement or TMVR.
• Surgery: Surgery can repair or replace your mitral valve. Surgeons use various methods, like minor cuts or robots. For those with rheumatic heart disease, surgery may unstick valve parts. The doctor chooses between fixing or swapping the valve, using animal tissue, artificial materials, or both.

Mitral Stenosis Prevention

• Treatment of Infections : Timely treating bacterial infections can help prevent mitral valve stenosis.
• Healthy Lifestyle: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle through regular exercise and a balanced diet can contribute to prevention.
• Regular Medical Checkups: Scheduled checkups with healthcare providers allow for early detection of developing conditions.
• Limitations in Prevention: Unfortunately, congenital mitral stenosis cannot be prevented as it occurs from birth.