Question Title: mtral insufficiency

Hi, thank you for promptly answering my questions posted July 22, 1998. This is quite a service you are providing for us who...FORGOT to ask our physicians this one more question. Keep up the great work, please!
The question I have is: After being diagnosed with "Mild" mitral valve sufficiency, how concerned should I be about this? The impression I get from my doctor is that he doesn't seem to think it's a big deal. I was recently told that the inderal 120 mg I'm taking is to control a pre existing high blood pressure disease which without inderal is 160/100. Yet, for many years I always thought that the mitral valve was causing the heart to beat faster and harder.
Is it possible that I'm taking the inderal for both the mitral sufficiency {palpitations,pvcs, fast heart beats) and high blood pressure?
So, please clarify, how seriously should I interpret the diagnosis of "mild" mitral sufficiency? What's the worst thing that can happen from this? Am I taking the inderal to slow down the heartbeat or to treat hypertension?
oops, quess I had more than one question. Really appreciate your information. I'm sure it will help.
Helena

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Dear Helen

Inderal is used to treat high blood pressure. It can also be used to treat palpitations, especially in people who have mitral valve prolapse. I suspect someone thought that you had mitral valve prolapse; this is probably what is also causing the mild mitral insufficiency - a leaky valve. There is a chance that the amount of leak will worsen over the years, resulting in the need for surgical repair or replacement of the valve. You should make sure that you follow-up regularly with your doctor so that he can keep an eye on your heart and on your valve.

You should also ask your doctor if you need to take antibiotics before dental procedures or surgical procedures. Some people with mitral valve prolapse and/or mitral regurgitation need to do this to minimize the chances of getting a heart valve infection.

I hope this is useful. Good luck. Feel free to write back with further questions.

If you wish to be evaluated here at the Cleveland Clinic, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE for an appointment with a cardiologist at desk F15. Information provided in the Heart Forum is for general purposes only. Specific diagnoses and therapies can only be provided by your doctor.

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