How Does the Pressure Work in Your Heart

[Jody71572]

I have been diagnosed with Mitral Valve Reg and Pulmonary Hypertension and a stiff heart.  My doctor says the pressure in my heart is high due to the mitral valve leakage.  They did the echo card found that the leak was not that big but when they did the cardiac catherization that's when they found the pressure was high behind the leak.  I am now on my third medicine Isorsorbide and HCTZ.  I have stopped taking the medicine.  What would happen to my heart.  My doctor said my pressure will go back up again, is that true and will that cause my heart to fail.  The medicine does not work, I still have the chest pains, the heart palpations,fatigued, weak, and swelling in my left foot.  What do I do.


This discussion is related to AF due to mitral valve regurgitation..

[kenkeith]

It is easy for me to answer the isosorbide question.  It is a slow acting nitrate to interupt angina (chest pain).  Originally, the nitrate was a dosage twice a day for me, but now I take the med prior to my exercise routine and I am pain free.

But, if you have angina, it should be treated as angina is an indication your heart is not receiving sufficient blood.  This can/will damage heart cells and can lead to ischemic heart failure.  HCTZ is medication to reduce fluids, and less blood volume lowers the heart's workload as well as edema (fluids leaking into tissues).

You may need to change your perscription or increase dosage; don't permit your heart to have an insufficient supply of blood oxygen...you need medication to dilate the vessels for a sufficient supply of blood/oxygen otherwise you can have irreversable heart muscle cell damage.

[Jody71572]

I have been on Isosorbide for at least 6 months and the chest pains are still their.  What is the next step after this medicine?  I have never experience what you have with Isosorbide (no chest pains).  You exercise, if I walk to fast to my car, Im out of breath like I just ran for 3 hours straight and I feel like Im breathing in sand through my lungs.

[kenkeith]

Run 3 hours straight!!?  You want to correlate your heart rate not exceed 220 minus your age with your routine.  Your heart may be OK but there may be a respiratory issue.