Mitral Valve Prolapse Research Paper
Mitral Valve Prolapse Nichole Scalone April 16, 2013 Cvt 212 Professor Amelia Pose
The human heart is the strongest and most vital organ in the human body.
This amazing machine keeps us alive day after day and it is important to take care of our bodies so we can live a long healthy life. Although sometimes no matter how much we take care of ourselves through proper nutrition and daily exercise problems can occur which we are not at fault. Mitral valve prolapse is one of these conditions that the cause is still unknown. Researchers think it may be hereditary and people can be born …show more content…
When a doctor is examining a patient with a stethoscope, a clicking sound is heard soon after the ventricle begins to contract. This clicking is felt to reflect tightening of the abnormal valve leaflets against the pressure load of the left ventricle. If there is associated leakage of blood through the abnormal valve opening a "whooshing" sound can be heard immediately following the clicking sound. This is a heart murmur. After a doctor believes to have detected mitral valve prolapse the patient is sent for an echocardiograph. An echocardiograph is the most useful test for mitral valve prolapse. Echocardiography can measure the severity of prolapse and the degree of mitral regurgitation. It can also detect areas of infection on the abnormal valves. Valve infection is called endocarditis and is a very rare, but potentially serious complication of mitral valve prolapse. Echocardiography can also evaluate the effect of prolapse and regurgitation on the functioning of the muscles of the ventricles. When a patient is suffering from abnormally rapid or irregular heartbeats they are usually given a 24-hour Holter monitor. This is a device that takes a continuous recording of the patient 's heart rhythm as the patient carries on daily activities. When abnormal rhythms occur during the test period they are captured and analyzed at a later date. If abnormal rhythms do not occur every day, the Holter recording may fail to capture the abnormal rhythms. These patients then can be fitted with a small event recorder to be worn for up to several weeks. When the patient senses a palpitation, an event button can be pressed to record the heart rhythm prior to, during, and after the palpitations. These machines help the doctors to diagnosis the severity of the patient’s heart
The human heart is the strongest and most vital organ in the human body.
This amazing machine keeps us alive day after day and it is important to take care of our bodies so we can live a long healthy life. Although sometimes no matter how much we take care of ourselves through proper nutrition and daily exercise problems can occur which we are not at fault. Mitral valve prolapse is one of these conditions that the cause is still unknown. Researchers think it may be hereditary and people can be born …show more content…
When a doctor is examining a patient with a stethoscope, a clicking sound is heard soon after the ventricle begins to contract. This clicking is felt to reflect tightening of the abnormal valve leaflets against the pressure load of the left ventricle. If there is associated leakage of blood through the abnormal valve opening a "whooshing" sound can be heard immediately following the clicking sound. This is a heart murmur. After a doctor believes to have detected mitral valve prolapse the patient is sent for an echocardiograph. An echocardiograph is the most useful test for mitral valve prolapse. Echocardiography can measure the severity of prolapse and the degree of mitral regurgitation. It can also detect areas of infection on the abnormal valves. Valve infection is called endocarditis and is a very rare, but potentially serious complication of mitral valve prolapse. Echocardiography can also evaluate the effect of prolapse and regurgitation on the functioning of the muscles of the ventricles. When a patient is suffering from abnormally rapid or irregular heartbeats they are usually given a 24-hour Holter monitor. This is a device that takes a continuous recording of the patient 's heart rhythm as the patient carries on daily activities. When abnormal rhythms occur during the test period they are captured and analyzed at a later date. If abnormal rhythms do not occur every day, the Holter recording may fail to capture the abnormal rhythms. These patients then can be fitted with a small event recorder to be worn for up to several weeks. When the patient senses a palpitation, an event button can be pressed to record the heart rhythm prior to, during, and after the palpitations. These machines help the doctors to diagnosis the severity of the patient’s heart