What are the signs of mitral regurgitation

Mitral regurgitation is actually a heart disease that is more common in men. Because the mitral valve is located inside the heart, a dilated ventricle can cause patients to have difficulty breathing. Knowing more about the symptoms of mitral regurgitation can also help you understand the disease.

1. Difficulty breathing

Exertional dyspnea is caused by reduced lung compliance and impaired pulmonary ventilation function due to pulmonary congestion. Dyspnea occurs during activities and the pulmonary congestion gradually worsens. There may be orthopnea and acute pulmonary edema.

2. Cough and hemoptysis

The cough is often dry and frequent, and worsens during activity and at night. This is mostly a reflex cough caused by high pressure in the left atrium. Left atrial dilation compresses the bronchus and also causes cough. The disease is prone to cause bronchitis. If accompanied by infection, there may be sticky or purulent sputum. Pulmonary venous hypertension leading to bronchial varicose veins and rupture may cause coughing up large amounts of blood, which is bright red. Pulmonary congestion hemoptysis is characterized by blood in the sputum. In severe cases, the sputum appears pink and frothy, which is a manifestation of acute pulmonary edema.

3. Hoarseness

It is caused by the enlarged left atrium and pulmonary artery compressing the recurrent laryngeal nerve, leading to vocal cord paralysis.

4. Symptoms of right heart failure

There may be poor appetite, abdominal distension, lower limb edema and oliguria, but the dyspnea may be alleviated at this time.

Signs of mitral stenosis can be detected by physical examination and auscultation.

Physical examination revealed a typical mitral facies with mild purplish cheeks.

Auscultation may reveal:

(1) The first heart sound at the apex is hypertrophic and has a rappelling quality.

(2) The mitral valve opening sound can be heard between the 3rd and 4th intercostal spaces on the left side of the sternum or above the apex of the heart, and the early diastolic opening sound can be heard.

(3) A rumbling murmur in the middle and late stages of the apex is the most characteristic sign of mitral stenosis.

(4) The second pulmonary artery sound is hypertrophic, often with half split, and is related to pulmonary hypertension.