Many kids and grown-ups have something called mitral valve prolapse. For most people, it's a heart problem that isn't much to worry about.

What Is the Mitral Valve?

The mitral valve is part of the heart. A normal heart has four chambers, two atria and two ventricles. Each side of the heart has an atrium and a ventricle. Blood comes from all over the body into the heart's right atrium. From there it goes to the right ventricle. The right ventricle pumps the blood to the lungs, where it picks up oxygen. Next, the blood returns from the lungs to the heart's left atrium. From the left atrium it goes into the left ventricle, which pumps the blood out to the body so the body can use the oxygen in the blood.

The mitral valve is between the heart's left atrium and left ventricle. It has two flaps that open and close together like a pair of swinging doors. When the heart beats, the left ventricle pumps blood out to the body and the flaps swing shut. This keeps the blood in the ventricle from going back into the left atrium.

What Is Mitral Valve Prolapse?

In someone who has mitral valve prolapse (MVP), one or both of the valve's flaps buckle upot lại thànhân slightly into the atrium as they close. In some kids, these flaps still close completely. In some other kids, they may not shut properly. When the flaps don't close correctly, blood can leak back into the left atrium. This can happen because the flaps are too floppy or too big or have the wrong shape.

Usually mitral valve prolapse doesn't cause any problems. Almost all kids who have it lead totally normal lives. People don't even know they have it or don't find out until they're adults. Sometimes people are born with mitral valve prolapse, or it can develop during a person's life. Doctors often don't know why someone has mitral valve prolapse.

Signs and Symptoms

Most kids with mitral valve prolapse have no complaints and no symptoms. In some kids, the flaps of the mitral valve make a clicking sound when they close. A doctor may hear this when listening to the heart with a stethoscope. Someone who has mitral valve prolapse and a little blood leaking back through the valve also may have a heart murmur. A heart murmur is the sound caused by the leaking blood.

Kids with mitral valve prolapse may also:

o                     feel dizzy or lightheaded

o                     feel anxious

o                     be really tired

o                     get out of breath when playing or exercising

o                     feel that their heart is beating very fast

o                     have chest pain

o                     have fainting episodes

What Will the Doctor Do?

Most kids who learn they have mitral valve prolapse find out about it during a regular checkup. The doctor might be listening to the kid's heart and hear a click or a murmur. The doctor then will send the kid to a pediatric cardiologist, a doctor who treats heart conditions in kids.

First, the cardiologist will talk to you and your parents for a while and ask some questions about your health. Then he or she will examine you and listen to your heart. The doctor also may order some tests. The tests can help the doctor find out what's causing the different sound in your heart. If the doctor discovers that you do have mitral valve prolapse, you probably won't need any treatment. In a few cases, kids may take a medicine to help the heart pump blood out to the body or and sometimes to give the heart a more regular heartbeat. Very rarely, a kid might have surgery to fix a mitral valve that's leaky.

Mitral Valve Prolapse Can Lead to Infections

You may wonder what taking care of your teeth has to do with keeping your heart healthy. If you have unhealthy gums (gum disease or gingivitis), your gums become inflamed or irritated. Bacteria that normally live in your mouth can then sneak more easily through your irritated gums and go into your bloodstream.

So, make sure you:

o         brush your teeth at least twice a day, morning and night after you eat

o         learn how to floss your teeth to rub away those nasty bacteria before you go to sleep

o         see your dentist every 6 months

This is the best way to prevent infection in your heart.

Can You Play?

If you have mitral valve prolapse and no other problems, you won't have to do anything special to take care of yourself. You may have to see your cardiologist every year or two. Your doctor will let you know if it's OK to play sports and do all your usual activities. If you have symptoms, like a fainting spell or feeling your heart is beating really fast, check with your doctor about sports. Most kids with mitral valve prolapse can play sports without a problem.