Confidently Treating Mitral Valve Disease in Northern California
The mitral valve allows blood to flow from your heart’s upper-left chamber (left atrium) into the lower-left chamber (left ventricle). Normally, this valve functions as a one-way door, letting blood flow in but not out. Disease or the natural process of aging can cause the mitral valve to become misshapen or stiff, which reduces the heart’s ability to pump blood.
Dignity Health North State provides the latest medical care to diagnose and treat all types of mitral valve disease, including:
- Mitral valve prolapse
- Mitral valve stenosis
- Mitral valve regurgitation
If you’d like to meet with a cardiologist about mitral valve disease in Northern California, use our online search tool and Find a Doctor today.
Mitral Valve Disease Symptoms
You might not even know you have a mitral valve disorder until your doctor detects a heart murmur or clicking sound during a routine physical exam. When symptoms of mitral valve disease do occur, they can include:
- Shortness of breath
- Pain in your chest
- Feeling lightheaded
These symptoms can also be warning signs of serious, life-threatening conditions. If you or a loved one are experiencing these symptoms, call 911 or seek emergency medical care.
Mitral Valve Disease Causes
The causes of mitral valve disease depend on the specific type.
- Mitral valve prolapse occurs when the tissue flaps of the valve don’t close properly. This can be caused by excessive growth of collagen on the valve flaps.
- Mitral valve stenosis is a stiffening or narrowing of the valve flaps, most often caused by injury to the valve from rheumatic fever. An untreated strep infection can lead to this illness.
- Mitral valve regurgitation occurs when a damaged valve allows blood to leak back into the atrium. This damage can be caused by a heart attack, mitral valve prolapse, or other unknown reasons.
Mitral Valve Disease Treatment at Dignity Health North State
The goal of treatment for mitral valve disease is to stop it from getting worse and repair the valve so it can function normally.
Your doctor may recommend the following therapies based on the type, severity, and stage of your condition, as well as your overall health and other factors:
Not all mitral valve problems can be prevented, but certain types, such as mitral valve stenosis, can be avoided by seeking prompt treatment for strep infections. Your Dignity Health North State doctor may treat your strep infection with antibiotics to prevent it from developing into rheumatic fever. For more information about advanced care for mitral valve diseases, meet with a doctor at one of our convenient locations:
Dignity Health North State is a leader in caring for cardiovascular conditions, using the latest diagnostic technology and proven treatments for mitral valve disease in Mt. Shasta, Red Bluff, and Redding, CA.