9 Natural Ways to Strengthen Your Heart Valves

For mild leakage, treatment is usually not necessary. You may need heart surgery to repair or replace the valve for severe leakage or regurgitation. Left untreated, severe mitral valve regurgitation can cause heart failure or heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias).

Unfortunately, heart valves do not tend to heal themselves. It is true that some infants born with heart murmurs will eventually grow out of the murmur as the heart matures.

Mitral regurgitation may begin suddenly. This often occurs after a heart attack. When the regurgitation does not go away, it becomes long-term (chronic). Many other diseases or problems can weaken or damage the valve or the heart tissue around the valve.

Replacement surgery is usually preferred if you have a hard, calcified mitral valve ring (annulus) or widespread damage to the valve and surrounding tissue. The disadvantages of mitral valve replacement include the following: A tissue valve may need to be replaced after a certain number of years.

1. Look at Your Plate.
2. Pop Some Fish Oil.
3. Keep Your Weight in Check.
4. Decrease Salt Intake.
5. Get Better Sleep.
6. Move Around.
7. Try Meditation.
8. Up Your Dental Hygiene.

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP), also known as floppy mitral valve syndrome, systolic click-murmur syndrome, and billowing mitral leaflets, is valvular heart disease. It is generally considered a benign condition, however, at times, it may present with sudden cardiac death, endocarditis or cerebrovascular accident.

O’HAIR: Researchers have discovered that most individuals with a mild leak in the valve are still alive five years after diagnosis. However, for those with a severe leak that goes untreated, survival drops way off, hovering around 60 percent surviving at five years.

In mitral valve repair, the surgeon removes and repairs part of the damaged mitral valve to allow the valve to fully close and stop leaking. The surgeon may tighten or reinforce the ring around a valve (annulus) by implanting an artificial ring (annuloplasty band).

Median survival after MV ‐repair was 7.8 years, close to 8.5 years (95% CI : 8.2–9.4) in the age‐matched UK population (ratio 0.9). Rate of re‐operation for MV ‐dysfunction was 2.3% versus 2.5% (mitral valve replacement, P=1.0).

How Long Will Mitral Valve Repair Last? Most people will not need a follow up operation after mitral valve repair. 95% of patients are free of reoperation at 10 years, and this statistic is similar at 20 years.

Bottom Line: The antioxidants in honey have been linked to beneficial effects on heart health, including increased blood flow to the heart and a reduced risk of blood clot formation.

For most people, mitral valve repair is the preferred surgical treatment. During surgery, your surgeon will modify your own valve to stop backward blood flow by reconnecting the flappy valve tissue or by removing excess tissue. Your surgeon may also reinforce the ring around the heart valve to prevent blood from leaking backward.

Transcatheter valve therapy If you have severe mitral regurgitation and can’t have surgery, your doctor may recommend a less invasive approach called transcatheter valve therapy. The new technique allows your doctor to repair a valve by implanting a device using a tube (catheter) inserted in a blood vessel in your groin and guided to your heart.

Your surgeon may also reinforce the ring around the heart valve to prevent blood from leaking backward. If mitral valve repair isn’t possible, your surgeon may replace it with an artificial valve that is man-made (mechanical) or is made from human tissue or taken from cows or pigs.

Complications. An abnormal mitral valve increases your chance of getting endocarditis from bacteria, which can further damage the mitral valve. People at high risk of endocarditis may be prescribed antibiotics before certain dental and medical procedures, to reduce the risk of infection.