Medications and the Mitral Valve
Mitral valve disease can be a serious condition when the mitral valve (the valve located between the left atrium and left ventricle heart chambers) no longer works properly. The mitral valve’s job is to keep blood flowing properly from the left atrium to the left ventricle. This valve is the one most often correlated with disease. When the mitral valve isn’t functioning properly, the heart is not pumping enough blood out of the left ventricular chamber to provide the body with oxygen-enriched blood.
As of right now, medical research is not close to finding a medicine that can treat mitral valve disease. However, some medications, through studies, have shown some benefits for mitral valve disease patients. For a patient with mitral valve prolapse, beta-blocker metoprolol has been shown to potentially prevent the heart function from worsening over time. Some patients on this medicine were less likely to need surgery during their time on it. Studies published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology suggested that beta-blocker therapy may help patients with mitral valve prolapse and leaky valves. However, more trials are being done. Beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors may also help with reducing an enlarged heart back to its normal size.
Currently, the best course of action to fix mitral valve conditions is still mitral valve surgery. Visit our Mitral Valve Surgery page to learn more about this surgery, its benefits and risks, and what to expect before and after the surgery. Surgery can be scary, but it will improve your chances of living a longer, healthier life. These days, mitral valve procedures are minimally-invasive so they’re less traumatic to the body and require a shorter recovery time.
Schedule Mitral Valve Surgery in Tampa
If you suffer from mitral valve disease, don’t search for a medication to fix your valve, because surgery is the best solution if you have a severe condition. Don’t hesitate, talk to a heart valve surgeon. Dr. Peter Mikhail is a heart valve surgeon who specializes in mitral valve surgery. He will be able to determine if you can have a minimally-invasive heart valve surgery or procedure. To book a consult, click our heart valve surgery page or call 727-312-4844. Dr. Mikhail is based in New Port Richey, Florida, and treats patients in the Tampa and Clearwater area.
