Progression of Valve Disease?

[helena]

Dear Dr.
     I've read on previous posts that's it's difficult to explain why some valve regurgitations progress and others don't.  I've been hanging in there for the past 16 years or so with mild to moderate tricuspid and mitral valve regurgitations, taking 80mg to 120mg Inderal for 16 years. This medication controls the hypertension and has alleviated alot of the pvc symtoms? In trying to wean off this drug last summer, (because of allergy testing), I quickly found out how very dependent I am on it. I didn't do well on other beta blockers...BP was hard to control, felt alot of palpitations, etc.  
Question: Do you think the Inderal is also controlling the progression of the valve regurgitations and at the same time keeping the heart in pretty good condition? OR...Is it just pacifying the valves disease???...and, as I continue to age the medicaton won't work as well?
Is there any relationship with the hypertension and leaking valves? Did one condition cause the other to happen, or is this just coincidental?  BP does run in the family.
Understanding what ails us relieves a lot of unnecessary worry. God Bless All of You for this wonderful service.
Happy Holidays!

MERCI BEAUCOUP...Thank You!
Helena

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

It may be helping although there is not really a lot of scientific studies to support that claim.  There is definately a benefit to keeping your blood pressure low from a heart disease standpoint and probably from a valve standpoint as well.  It may be that your regurgitation never gets any worse.  Knock on wood!

[francesca]

That is a very good question as I am in the exact same situation with added aortic and mitral stenosis.  I also do not do well on Beta-Blockers. I have had rheumatic heart disease for 20 years.
I also have hypertention.
Are you by any chance French Canadian?

[Curt Stevenson]

Hello, I have the pounding heart syndrome. Blood pressure always seems to  come in high. Nights for me are generally a night mare, been like this for years. Lately been very severe.. But tonite the reason i'm checking this out, is because my heart rate is 50 per minute but the pounding persists. The other day my friend gave me some klonipin roche 33 mg...and it seemed to solve the problem right away... what should I do It's very hard to take...

Thankyou

[helena]

To Francesca, Je suis Franco-americaine, I am Franco American.  The only beta-blocker I respond well to is the inderal.  I hope the answer I receive will help you as well.
Helena

[Lauren]

I know that there is no way to tell if a persons MR will progress, but there are still a few things that confuse me.  If a person has MR, the severity of it can limit life span (that has been stated by cardios on this forum) In my case-MVP-I have a very small amount of regurg.  If this does get worse, can surgery not help lifespan?  I am probobly just being stupid and not understanding what I read, but it seems like if surgery can correct the problem, then there should never be a shortened lifespan.  What would be the point of surgery if it did not help?  If a person has MVP and undergoes surgery for a severe leakage, will that person still have a shortened lifespan?

[progression of aortic insufficiency]

Does aortic insufficiency always worsen?  Could it stay at 3 to 4+ for years with no effects on the heart?

I am on adalat and was told by my cardiologist that this could delay the need for surgery and the valve worsening.  My one doctor said there is a possibility it would not worsen, and I may never need surgery, but to keep getting my yearly echos to monitor it, which I intend to do.

Thanks for the information.

[Inderol issue]

I'm not a doctor.  I have had MVP all my life.  However, my use of "heart medications" wasn't for my heart at all.   I was using Inderol for about 12 years to control migraine headaches.  When the migraines started popping through more often, my doctor switched to Blocadren and then to Cardizem CD about 10 years ago.  All of these medicines were originally heart medicines.  The Cardizem, though, is a calcium channel blocker.  Because my blood pressure  has been resistant to change, I am now on quite a few different medications.  I am not able to take beta blockers because of other issues.  
My point is that there are other medications that you might be able to take with even better results than the Inderol.  
Check with your doctor.  
The ACE inhibitors and calcium channel blockers are doing well for me (controlling the migraines, blood pressure, MVP symptoms, etc.).
Good luck.

[bernadette byczek]

A recent x-ray pointed out that "the aorta was unfolded, and calcified "
        My lipid profile was basically normal{all added up to 5, which is a very slight elevation}
        I was told that it sometimes occurs with age, or could be familiar, if the lipids were high.
        It's been a long time since school and I worked basically
Ob/gyn; so Ive forgotten a lot.
         I'm assuming this is not reversible;and other than losing weight what else can be done;and how will this eventually effect my cardiovascular system, in the future?
          I rapid response would be appreciated, so I won,t be obssesing over this holiday weekend.Thank You
                       Sincerely
                        Bernadette Byczek