Mitral Valve Regurgitation
When to Call a Doctor
Call 911 or other emergency services immediately if you or a person you are with has:
- Symptoms of a heart attack, including severe chest pain.
- Symptoms of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA).
- Loss of consciousness (syncope).
- Difficulty breathing.
Call a doctor immediately if you have:
- Symptoms of heart failure, such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling in the legs and feet.
- Mitral valve regurgitation (MR) and are having symptoms of infection such as fever with no other obvious cause. Be alert for signs of infection if you have recently have had any dental, diagnostic, or surgical procedure.
- Irregular heartbeats.
- Fainting episodes.
- Palpitations.
- Shortness of breath.
- Coughing up blood.
- A decreased ability to exercise at your usual level.
- Excessive fatigue (without other explanation).
Watchful waiting
Watchful waiting is a wait-and-see approach. If you do not have symptoms of MR, your doctor will still want to see you every 6 to 12 months, or as soon as you have symptoms for the first time. If your doctor has talked with you about what to do if you have symptoms, follow your doctor's instructions. Contact your doctor if your symptoms get worse.
Who to see
Your family doctor or general practitioner can check symptoms that may be related to mitral valve regurgitation and order further tests as needed. You may be referred to a specialist, such as a cardiologist or an internist who specializes in cardiovascular problems.
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| Author: | Douglas Dana Robin Parks, MS | Last Updated: May 19, 2008 |
| Medical Review: | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology | |
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