10 Effective Natural Remedies For Mitral Valve Prolapse

The heart is a mysterious organ and comes with a few causes of concern, such as mitral valve prolapse. Mitral valve is a common condition that affects millions of people and can go unnoticed by some. While it may cause a few inconveniences, the mitral valve prolapse isn’t too serious, though it sometimes can be.

The heart is too important for any condition to be taken lightly. Every condition, including mitral valve prolapse, need to be taken seriously. Understanding this condition can be the difference between a healthy life and one riddled with frequent hospital visits. No information is irrelevant, especially when dealing with the heart. In this article, we will be looking at:

• Meaning Of Mitral Valve Prolapse
• Causes Of Mitral Valve Prolapse
• Symptoms Of Mitral Valve Prolapse
• Detecting Mitral Valve Prolapse
• Natural Remedies For Mitral Valve Prolapse

What Is Mitral Valve Prolapse?

Mitral valve prolapse is a heart condition where the valve between both left chambers crashes. The valve in question (mitral valve) has floppy flaps, which prolapse upward, forming a parabolic curve. Movement from the lower to the upper chamber usually occurs when the heart contracts.

Mitral valve prolapse isn’t a life-threatening condition; most people simply live with it. While it is mostly mild, it still should be monitored to prevent it from becoming extreme. An extreme case of mitral heart valve results in a condition known as mitral valve regurgitation, where blood flows backward.

Extreme cases of mitral valve regurgitation may require surgery to correct, but other than that, mitral valve prolapse is uneventful. No lifestyle changes or medication is needed for mitral valve prolapse when it is mild. Sometimes, people don’t even realize anything is wrong when suffering from mitral valve prolapse.

What Causes Mitral Valve Prolapse?

Mitral Valve Prolapse isn’t genetically passed down; however, the tendency to suffer from it may be genetic. The mitral valve leaflets of individuals with this predisposition are abnormally stretchy or loose, causing them to prolapse. An estimate claims that as many as 2% of the world’s population currently suffers from mitral valve prolapse. Since it is mild and some people don’t even realise they have it, this figure may be more.

The condition can be induced or linked to other heart diseases in those without a genetic predisposition to Mitral Valve Prolapse. Some of the heart diseases include:

• Ebstein anomaly
• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
• Graves’ disease
• Marfan syndrome
• Muscular dystrophy
• Scoliosis

While there is no proof to support it, some believe stress plays a role in mitral valve prolapse.

What Are The Symptoms Of Mitral Valve Prolapse?

Symptoms Of Mitral Valve Prolapse

Mitral valve prolapse isn’t always serious and can be difficult to diagnose as most people don’t even realize they have it. When symptoms do present themselves, it is usually when the condition is escalating. The more serious the condition becomes, the more prominent the symptoms appear.

Once blood starts flowing in reverse through the mitral valve, you will perceive symptoms of the condition. It is also important to note that symptoms vary from person to person, making them all the more difficult to identify. There are a few common symptoms that are usually associated with mitral valve prolapse, including:

• A racing or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, especially during exercise or when lying flat
• Fatigue

Symptoms associated with mitral valve prolapse only emerge when the condition is escalated, usually in older individuals. This has led to the myth of stress resulting in the condition. Mitral valve prolapse occurs in individuals of different ages; however, it tends to be mild. It is, however, possibly escalated by other diseases and stress.

Detecting Mitral Valve Prolapse

With symptoms few and far between, it isn’t always easy to detect mitral valve prolapse till it escalates. The condition is often detected during routine medical checkups or other procedures. When certain symptoms have developed, it is possible to detect this condition by listening to the heartbeat with a stethoscope. Irregular heartbeat is one of such symptoms, but it isn’t always reliable as several other things can cause it.

Once mitral valve prolapse symptoms have been identified, an echogram is the standard detection test. This procedure helps detect the state of the mitral valve and the amount of blood it regurgitates if any. Alternatively, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging can help detect this condition.

Natural Remedies For Mitral Valve Prolapse

Medications can be helpful when dealing with heart and mitral valve prolapse, but natural remedies are the most effective. The body is self-healing, and while science can produce a lot of cures, nothing beats natural remedies. Even after diagnosis and prescriptions, most physicians still recommend natural therapy. There are many homeopathic remedies for mitral valve prolapse, all of which won’t cost too much in terms of lifestyle changes. To that end, here are some of the best home remedies for mitral valve prolapse:

Regulate Your Magnesium Levels

Magnesium intake works reverse because a magnesium deficiency can cause or worsen mitral valve prolapse. Magnesium in moderation is good for the heart and can help improve its overall condition. A lack of magnesium is usually associated with several heart conditions, including irregular heartbeat, and mitral valve prolapse symptoms. Increasing magnesium levels can help strengthen the mitral valve flaps, preventing prolapse or regurgitation.

Magnesium is different from other natural remedies, which you can administer without prior notification or prescription. Any increase in magnesium consumption or an increase in food levels must be recommended by a physician. It may be good for the heart, but an excess of magnesium is also problematic, making its consumption a risky endeavor. Magnesium deficiency is necessary for developing several heart diseases, including mitral valve prolapse, making its presence mandatory. Carefully regulate magnesium consumption to avoid an overdose.

Reduce Sodium Intake

Sodium seems to be an enemy of the heart, and most doctors recommend lowering sodium intake for heart-related conditions. The more sodium you ingest, the greater the risk of suffering or escalating mitral valve prolapse. Sodium levels tend to build up over the years and only become a problem in older people. Older people tend to show symptoms of mitral valve prolapse for this reason.

In addition to sodium, you should also lower your sugar levels. Sodium and sugar may not directly induce mitral valve prolapse but can induce other diseases like diabetes. Other heart diseases also cause mitral valve prolapse, sometimes induced by excess sodium and sugar. Where mitral valve prolapse is already present, excess sodium and sugar can increase the effect, causing regurgitation. Once diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse, it is best to immediately lower sodium and sugar intake. Reduced sodium and sugar levels do not cure this condition, but they reduce the chances of escalation and help you manage it.

Exercise

Exercise is a natural remedy for many things, including heart diseases like mitral valve prolapse. There is no such thing as too much exercise, making it a preventive measure and, where necessary, a remedial one. Adding exercise to one’s daily routine can help strengthen the cardiovascular muscles and mitral valve leaflets. Exercise can be done in moderation, especially when it is frequent. The more exercise one gets, the lower the chances of mitral valve prolapse.

Exercise is also helpful in keeping several illnesses at bay, especially ones associated with the heart. Seeing as other heart diseases can play a role in mitral valve prolapse occurring or worsening, a little exercise can help keep it out. It may not be enough to prevent or reduce mitral valve prolapse, but exercise is a key factor. Before starting to exercise, there is no need to wait until mitral valve prolapse is a pressing concern. Add exercise to your daily routine, no matter how little, as a preventive measure to improve your overall health. Exercising as little as an hour daily can help keep you in perfect health and facilitate weight loss.

Lose Some Weight

While there is no intention to insult overweight people, the consensus is that they are generally unhealthy. Most overweight people carry a serious risk of suffering from health problems, especially heart-related. The working principle is simple: An overweight person’s heart has a larger surface area to cover without growing. The heart is forced to pump more blood and work faster, causing wear and tear. The more weight an individual possesses, the greater the risk of heart diseases and mitral valve prolapse.

Mitral valve prolapse can happen to anyone, so weight isn’t always the cause, but shedding a few may be helpful. Like with exercise, weight loss can be purely speculative, serving as a preventive measure for heart problems. Exercising frequently is one of the ways to prevent or get rid of excess weight. Weight loss should only be employed where the individual is overweight or when prescribed by a physician.

Avoid Tobacco And Alcohol

Tobacco and alcohol negatively affect the heart and cause several diseases and conditions. The more alcohol and tobacco a person consumes, the greater the risk of heart diseases like mitral valve prolapse. Alcohol and tobacco can clog valves in the heart forcing the mitral valve to prolapse. They are also complicit in several other heart diseases, which can cause or worsen mitral valve prolapse. The consensus is that any smoker diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse should stop immediately.

In the case of alcoholism and smoking, reducing consumption is never an option. The only solution is to cut it out of your life, seeking help to do so if necessary. Any doctor will recommend this whether or not it is the cause of mitral valve prolapse. Cutting out smoking and alcoholism can also serve as a preventive measure, in addition to helping you live healthier. Cutting out alcoholism and tobacco may not be enough to stop or reduce mitral valve prolapse, but it is a great start.

Eat A Lot Of Fruits and Vegetables

The key here is to eat healthily and maintain a generally healthy lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle helps prevent all diseases and keeps you in optimal condition. Fruits are a natural addition to any diet and have an impressive benefit. The more fruits you add to your diet, the healthier you are, and there is less chance of mitral valve prolapse. Any fruit can have the necessary effect, so you can add any ones you like to your diet.

Fruits and vegetables have the same effect when it comes to eating healthy, so eat them as much as possible. There are a lot of benefits that come with fruits and vegetables that can help prevent mitral valve prolapse, including weight loss. Fruits and vegetables don’t have a limit and pose no serious health threats when consumed frequently. To this end, you can add as much and vegetables to each meal and reap enormous benefits.

Reduce Stress

There may be no evidence to support the theory that stress causes or elevates mitral valve prolapse, but it can’t be good for it. Symptoms of mitral valve prolapse mostly appear in the elderly, around the time when stress-related issues normally manifest. Unless it is a freaky coincidence, stress and mitral valve prolapse share some relationship that should be addressed. Once mitral valve prolapse is diagnosed, most physicians will likely recommend rest or avoiding most physical activities.

Stress can sometimes cause irregular heartbeats, which is a symptom of mitral valve prolapse. Not to say that addressing mitral valve prolapse symptoms will solve the problem, but it will surely benefit your overall health. The less stress an individual has to deal with, the better their chances of avoiding any diseases that may cause or escalate mitral valve prolapse. No need to wait for a mitral valve prolapse diagnosis before avoiding stress, especially since time management can help.

Final Thoughts

The heart is arguably the most delicate organ in the body and requires the best care. Any disruptions to the heart can prove fatal, and while mitral valve prolapse is minor, it should be taken seriously. Mitral valve prolapse home remedies are the best option as they don’t ask you or cost too much. Of course, you will still need advice from a physician, but mitral valve prolapse natural treatment will help improve your odds.