Man dies in marathon with MVP

[Michaelccc]

can someone please explain this to me. yahoo home page had an article stating that a man died in a marathon today. he was 35 years old a police officer and died during the marathon. cause of death was MVP. i don't get it. i'm very confused. i thought mvp is not dangerous or life threatening and that many people has some for of it. i'm saying this because one cardio tells me he sees "trace" regurg on an echo and another cardio says no trace. also 2 ER docs said they hear murmur or mvp clicking however according to echo valves are normal. either case it is very confusing docs say not to worry if i had mvp however news showing man dying by running. can someone explain this? and yes i know this sounds like anxiety and worrying but i guess worrying comes from the unknown. if a person is presented with facts and statistics then i think worry will soon fade away. thanks in advance everyone

[FLBrat]

kind of like the people who die in car accidents.  some people could decide if they get in a car they will die.  most people just go on about life.  

Hey Michael, I heard of a new medicine for you the other day.  Now, you have to be prepared to take multiple doses daily...maybe up to 20, maybe more.  It has some side effects, it can hurt your body in many ways, and possibly cause death.  But hey, it only costs about $5 US a day.  It is readily available.    ???    Have you figured out where I am going with this.  If your medicines had the same side effects as your cigarrettes, would you let the doctor prescribe them to you???

[Michaelccc]

thanks deedle i understand. i feel as if though people in the media are so ridiculous. they make broad statements such as this making it seem as if though anyone with MVP who runs may die.

[deedle1976]

He probably had SEVERE valve disease most likely in the setting of other abnormalities.
Anyway your echo has shown you do not have MVP.
Studies have shown that 19% of the population has "mitral regurgitation more than or equal to mild severity ". So the 'trace regurg' you have ( and I have and probably half the people on this forum have) is absolutely nothing abnormal.