Personal Care for Mitral Valve Disease on the Central Coast

Just like a broken gate that loosely swings in the breeze, mitral valve disease causes one of the gates, or valves, inside your heart to no longer work properly.

Dignity Health Central Coast provides complete care to diagnose, treat, and manage all types of cardiovascular conditions. If you have questions about mitral valve disease on the Central Coast of California, Find a Doctor today.

While you may not experience any symptoms, there are times when mitral valve disease can cause shortness of breath, lightheadedness, and chest pain. In these instances, you should call 911 or seek emergency medical care.

Examining Mitral Valve Disease Causes

At Dignity Health Central Coast, we diagnose mitral valve disease with clinical expertise and humankindness. We know that any condition of the heart can cause fear and uneasiness.

When your heart functions properly, blood flows in a specific direction through the four chambers of your heart. Your mitral valve serves as a one-way gate that allows blood to move from your upper left chamber to your lower left chamber.

If your mitral valve stiffens or becomes misshapen as a result of aging or disease, your heart can lose its ability to effectively pump. Over time, your heart can become enlarged, or your lungs can experience increased pressure.

Let your doctor know if you feel chest pain, shortness of breath, or lightheaded, as these are all mitral valve leakage symptoms.

Mitral Valve Disease Treatment at Dignity Health Central Coast

Your Dignity Health Central Coast doctor can diagnose the three main types of mitral valve disease:

• Mitral valve stenosis, a narrowed or stiff valve, usually the result of damage from rheumatic fever.
• Mitral regurgitation, the backward flow of blood into your left atrium.
• Mitral valve prolapse, two tissue flaps no longer close completely.

Identifying your type of mitral valve disease allows your doctor to determine the most effective way to restore your mitral valve so it works properly. If your condition has become more advanced, your doctor may recommend medication or surgery for mitral valve repair or mitral valve replacement.

For exceptional care to keep your heart healthy, get in touch with a Dignity Health Central Coast doctor who specializes in mitral valve disease.

Dignity Health heart doctors specialize in treating a range of cardiovascular conditions, including mitral valve disease, on the Central Coast of California.