What is a "structurally normal heart?"

[fearfactor]

Lest anyone FREAK OUT, I am just posting this one little, teeny-tiny question about PACs/PVCs, so here goes.....

What is a structurally normal heart?  What do doctors mean by that term?  If you have "a redundant mitral valve with no frank prolapse" and trace mitral and tricuspid valve regurge, is that normal?

[Momto3]

I'm SO happy to see you posting!!  We really need you here!!  

There was a recent question posted by tickertock asking about that very same thing.  That phrase is used by many of us around here, me included, that it was great to have some clarification.  According to the doctor, the strictest definition is a heart with pretty much NOTHING out of the norm.  However, the doctor points out that it is really important to consider each case on a continuum.  I guess that's where it gets a little grey...

Check out tickertock's post on 7/18 at http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/211401

Please hang around!  You've been there and you can help others who are on their way....

How are things going?  

connie

[fearfactor]

Hi, Connie!  It's nice to talk to you.  Yes, I got a little bit upset being called a neurotic on that other board when it's SO not true, but I am glad to see they made this new board for us!

I looked at that other thread.  They didn't say I had MVP but just redundant mitral valve tissue.  Who knows what that really means?!  I guess the thing is to try and not worry or think about it...easier said, huh?

Things are well - I am taking the bar again starting tomorrow and lasting thru Thursday!  I am actually ready to get it over with and feel good about it this time!  I took my first MBA class and got an A.  It was lots of fun and I learned a lot!  I am looking forward to staying home with my kids until my oldest daughter starts kindergarten in late August.  I hope that you are doing well, too!  

Stacy

[Momto3]

You sound great!  I hope you knock the Bar exam outta the park!!  Remember, relax (the best you can...lol,), stay focused, breathe, pace yourself and keep flexing your fingers so you don't get writer's cramp.  You can do this!!!  

Congrats on the "A" in your MBA class!  I actually had a great time in my MBA program....I learned a lot about stuff I didn't know enough about.....Economics, Finance, Stats....All in all, it was time-consuming, but great!!

As for defining a structurally normal heart, I guess there can be variants that the doctor considers when evaluating each patient.  

Have a blast with kindergarten prep!!  It is so much fun to see your kids come home with their classwork!  Oh, and the stories are a hoot!  Enjoy the summer!

Please stick around. You are NOT neurotic at all!!!  At all!!

connie

[fearfactor]

Thanks, Connie!  I'll let you know how the test goes after I'm all done on Thursday.  I won't get the results til November but I can usually tell if I've messed up or done OK.  One good thing, I get to go stay in a hotel by myself for 3 days in another town while my husband plays mommy & daddy at home so I'll get to relax some!  :)

[anacyde]

Well, it sure is nice to see you :)

Dr. MJM recently posted about this in the doctor rhythm forum, and it was a really helpful post.  Definitely check that out.

As I had mentioned, even with my heart mildly enlarged and with my EF slightly reduced from what I call my near-PPCM (lol), my cardiologist said he still would not classify my heart as structurally ABnormal.  I think they mean people with structural heart disease (clear-cut cardiomyopathies), prior infarction (where part of the muscle isn't working right) and things like that where PVCs would pose a greater risk of clots (poor ejection fractions allow blood to pool in the ventricle, and coupled with incessant ventricular arrythmia this can cause problems).  In weak hearts, there's often a greater chance of more dangerous arrhythmias like VT, and likewise, VT in a weak heart would be more dangerous (NSVT can be innocuous in otherwise healthy people).

Now, I was told while I was in my cardiologist's office a few days back that it is rare to hear "everything's perfectly normal" on any echo.  Almost everyone has something (i.e. trace regurg, thickness of a wall, MVP, etc.).  A textbook heart isn't a guarantee even for healthy people, but it doesn't mean it will affect your life or health negatively in any way.  Every body is different, and every heart is too.

Now stick around this time, huh?  :)

[fearfactor]

Yep, after I got that echo report I really worried that the redundant mitral valve tissue meant something bad but the doctor told me it 's a variant of normal.  I was just curious if it is truly "structurally normal" meaning that PACs and PVCs are of no worry.

Thanks for the welcome back - I'm glad for the new forum and to be back at a place that is positive and supportive!

[tickertock]

Funny ,my diagnosis back in 2001 on an echo was worded exactly as yours, a redundancy of the mitral leaflets without any frank mitral valve prolapse, had an repeat echo in 2005, no MVP , no significant redundancy of the mitral valve, no regurgitation Ef 55%, mild LVH of the interventricular septum," essentially normal heart" nearly everyone has some kind blemish , PVCs & PACs apparently with these mild abnornalities are treated the same as if you had "completely normal heart", it doesn't change the prognosis! I asked a question on the doctor to patient NEW heart Rhythm forum a few days you can check it out as Mom to 3 suggested. I was more than satisfied with DR.MJM reply, his service his priceless and nothing like a little added reassurance now and then. Be well.

[dmil241]

Hi fearfactor. I don't have anything else to add about your question. I just wanted to wish you luck on the bar.

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

welcome back glad to see you checked in , as you can see we have our own board now and its great. good luck on your test .

[LukeL]

Many many people will have some values which don't fall into the "normal" category. Just like if you get a complete blood and urine lab workup a couple of values might fall out of the normal ranges. This doesn't mean there is anything wrong with you per se. It could just mean your body works a little differently or the lab or clinic has very strict values that they go by.

With the heart factors like body size, exercise regiment, and even technian and equipment error could cause some values and measurments to appear to be  abnormal. This is why  its important to have a skilled cardiologist read the results with your personal history in mind. As an EF of 40%  might be bad in a healthy  patient, but it could be great if the person has a history of heart faliure.