advice

[Photo/Girl]

Hi,Just looking for some feed back, I am 35 F...overweight ...I just had a echo-cardio and the result's show there is a small leak in my valve and thats what is causing murmur..The Dr said I would need to take antobics before any Dental work..not sure why ... and need a echo done every year..Do you think this will give me problems later in life and Should I have other test done....My dad had a heart attact at 54 and again in 60's....Right now I am on weight watchers, so I can loose the weight...Any help will do..Thanks

[kate3434]

hi i had thyroid operation since then as the hospital messed it up. iv had heart attack as they damage calcium iv had stroke they think am on 176 tablets aday. and now there telling me i have 2 leaky heart valves what happens now kate

[Photo/Girl]

First Thanks for all the help...Now I have a better understanding ....I will follow my Dr advice and have the echo done every year..no cost and no pain..so no problems with that....again Thanks everyone for all the advice ..God Bless each of you .,....Thanks again

[Momto3]

Hi!  I also have a heart murmur as a result of a leaky valve.  The heart has 4 valves and sometimes one or more than one of them will leak.  Sometimes it is caused be a condition called mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and sometimes it has another cause.  The technical term for the leak is "regurgitation" and the regurg is generally graded 1-4, 1 being trivial.  (trivial, mild, moderate, severe).  Sometimes, the leak warrants preventive antibiotics b/c of the potential for bacteria to enter the bloodstream. This is especially true for dental work and some other invasive procedures.   I think it is very important to follow your doctor's advice.  If he/she suggests an annual echo, it is a really good idea to follow through.  He/she is watching for any changes over time.  I have been followed for over twenty years.  MANY patients never progress, yet some will experience progression in the severity of the leak.  Some are symptomatic while others are not.

Congrats and good luck with the weight watchers program!  

[anacyde]

In a normal heart valve, the blood flows out and not back into the heart.  In mitral valve leakage, blood flows back into the heart.  Not really a big deal in most cases, but if you have dental work and the bacteria that gets knocked into your blood stream (this happens during any kind of dental work) also backflows into your heart.  If it gets "stuck" in there, I'm sure you can see why this causes problems.  Antibiotics given prior to dental work minimize any risk.  It's pretty common actually.

Many mitral problems don't change a whole lot.  Some do, but there are lots of things they can do to repair or replace the valves now.  It doesn't sound like that's even a concern.  

Heart attacks are caused by coronary artery disease and/or clots.  It's not the same mechanism involved.  Reducing your weight, controlling cholesterol and keeping your blood pressure in safe range will keep your risk profile low for developing your father's problems.  My dad has coronary artery disease too, so I try to do everything to modify risks.

[CLE0520]

That's a really common condition. Mitral Valve Prolapse. You take the antibiotics cause whenever you have your teeth cleaned, lots of bacteria get into yoru bloodstream (mouths not a really clean place!), and the bacteria can lodge in the mitral valve, as the 'prolapse' kind of keeps the valve from completely emptying when it 'flaps'. You take 4 caps of ampicillin 1 hr before your teeth cleaning, and that gets rid of the bacteria problem.  You also need to 'pre med' before any procedure where you are cut... having a skin cancer removed, mole cut off, etc.  Not necessary to premed before having a tooth filled, but pulled--yes.
You shouldnt need a yearly echo. Maybe in 10 years or so they might want to check on it again. But you're still young. Not to worry.