Atrial fibrillation (AFib) refers to rapid and irregular heart rate, which increases your risks related to heart failure, stroke and various other cardiac problems/complications. During atrial fibrillation, two upper chambers i.e. atria beat in an irregular and chaotic way i.e. without maintaining coordination with the ventricles i.e. two lower chambers.
Common symptoms of Atrial Fibrillation include breathing shortness, heart palpitations and weakness. Your atrial fibrillation episodes may come and go or you may develop the problem to such an extent that you require undergoing the necessary treatment.
Can Mitral Valve Prolapse Cause Atrial Fibrillation?
Mitral valve prolapse often cause atrial fibrillation, as the disease has relations with any one of the two heart valves. As an inherited type of problem, its condition remains benign. However, in severe conditions related to mitral valve prolapse, an individual often experiences heart failure, arrhythmias, stroke and severe mitral valve leakage/regurgitation.
Similar to the case of any other cardiac problem, mitral valve prolapse weakens your heart and reduces its efficiency to pump blood. Furthermore, in case of mitral valve stenosis caused due to abnormal valve, the atrium of your heart becomes enlarge and stretched, which results in atrial fibrillation i.e. an irregular heart rhythm. Upper heart chambers on the other side beat in a rapid way due to atrial fibrillation and hence, you require medical treatment to get back to your normal heartbeat.
Mitral valve remains close whenever your heart’s ventricle present at the left side starts to contract for pushing blood in different parts of your body. Doctors refer this common condition and myxomatous valve, which develops whenever the valve fails to close in a right way, as the leaflets contain additional tissues. Whenever any myxomatous mitral valve closes and causes contraction of the ventricle, force created on the heart valve forces it to cause prolapse i.e. out as a balloon into the heart left atrium.
Even the prolapsed valve does not cause any symptom, its symptoms may develop whenever the heart valve starts to regurgitate or leak. The heart of any individual may tolerate leaky valves more as compared to making it narrow or extremely tight (stetonic) valves. Because of this, symptoms related to regurgitation develop gradually.
Symptoms Of Mitral Valve Prolapse
Common symptoms of mitral valve prolapse and/or regurgitation include-
- Palpitations and/or abnormal heartbeat
- Feelings of anxiety
- Breathing shortness
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
Complications After Mitral Valve Prolapse
An individual may develop a few of the common complications after mitral valve prolapse problem. These include-
Atrial Fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation or abnormal heart rhythm and its related conditions often develop in one’s upper heart chambers and it is usually not a life threatening one. However, doctors may recommend you for an ultrasound test i.e. echocardiogram to assure that leakage in your heart is not a severe one. In case of severe leakage, you remain at the risk related to developing abnormal rhythms in both lower and upper heart chambers and in this situation, your atrial fibrillation, especially the one in lower chamber becomes the life threatening one.
Endocarditis. Leaking and abnormal heart valves may sometimes cause turbulent flow of blood, which further causes injury to the surface of your valve leaflet. Whenever this condition takes place, your risk related to heart valve infection increases leading to endocarditis. To avoid this complication, doctors usually recommend specific antibiotic medicines before you should undergo any medical or dental procedure.
Valve Regurgitation. Mitral valve regurgitation is a common complication associated with mitral valve prolapse. Also known as the backward blood flow, the issue is common among individuals exceeding 50years age and people dealing with hypertension or high blood pressure. In case the issue is severe, a patient has to undergo with open-heart surgery.
Conclusion
To conclude, we should say that depending on an individual’s condition, mitral valve prolapse might result in atrial fibrillation. However, not all individuals suffering from atrial fibrillation does not experience severe cardiac conditions, like regurgitation, stroke and heart failure.
Also Read:
- Can You Exercise With Mitral Valve Prolapse?
- Can Mitral Valve Prolapse Cause Death?
- Is Mitral Valve Prolapse A Serious Condition?
- Does Mitral Valve Prolapse Cause Palpitations?
- Foods To Eat And Avoid With Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Does Mitral Valve Prolapse Get Worse Over Time?
- Is Mitral Valve Prolapse Common?
