RICHARD DEVEREUX, MD: Mitral valve prolapse is diagnosed in either of two ways: by a physician listening to the heart and hearing characteristic sounds called a click and murmur; or by an echocardiogram, a high-frequency sound test that visualizes the abnormal motion of the heart valves.
ANNOUNCER: The exact cause of MVP is unknown but doctors believe it's a genetic condition and may have to do with certain body types. It has also been associated with the connective tissue disorder Marfan syndrome.
DOLPH HUTTER, MD: People with mitral valve prolapse are more likely to have other musculoskeletal abnormalities or connective tissue abnormalities. They may be taller, thinner people. They may have scoliosis, or curvature of the spine. So there is a bit of a body build association with mitral valve prolapse.
ANNOUNCER: Although most people with MVP don't feel different, people with a more pronounced defect can experience symptoms.
RICHARD DEVEREUX, MD: It is associated with an increase in the frequency of palpitations, awareness of extra heartbeats or runs of rapid heart-beating. A small percentage of people with mitral prolapse develop significant leak of blood across the mitral valve
ANNOUNCER: This leak is called mitral regurgitation and people with mitral regurgitation may present symptoms of fatigue, exhaustion, lightheadedness, palpitations, cough, and shortness of breath. But there are some people with it that don't present symptoms right away.
