Reverse Mitral Valve Prolapse with Orthomolecular Medicine
Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) or "click murmur syndrome" is the most common heart valve abnormality, affecting five to ten percent of the world population. A normal mitral valve consists of two thin leaflets, located between the left atrium and the left ventricle of the heart. Mitral valve leaflets, shaped like parachutes, are attached to the inner wall of the left ventricle by a series of strings called "chordae."
When the ventricles contract, the mitral valve leaflets close snugly and prevent the backflow of blood from the left ventricle into the left atrium. When the ventricles relax, the valves open to allow oxygenated blood from the lungs to fill the left ventricle.
In patients with mitral valve prolapse, the ventricles contract; the redundant leaflets prolapse (flop backwards) into the left atrium, sometimes allowing leakage of blood through the valve opening (mitral regurgitation).
When severe, mitral regurgitation can lead to abnormal heart rhythms. Patients with mitral valve prolapse may have imbalances in their autonomic nervous system, which regulates heart rate and breathing. Such imbalances may cause inadequate blood oxygen delivery to the working muscles during exercise thereby causing fatigue.
Palpitations are sensations of fast or irregular heart beats. In most patients with mitral valve prolapse, palpitations are harmless. In very rare cases, potentially serious heart rhythm abnormalities may underlie palpitations, which require further evaluation and treatment.
Sharp chest pains are reported in some patients with mitral valve prolapse, which can be prolonged.
Conventional Medical Treatment for MVP
Beta-blockers, such as Inderal (propranolol); Lopressor or Toprol (metoprolol); and Tenormin (atenolol) are used for long-term management of mitral valve prolapse (MVP). I'm always amazed at how many of my patients are taking these drugs for MVP, even with their very serious side effects.
These drugs slow the heart rate, which reduces cardiac output and leads to low blood pressure and fatigue. The brain and muscles then aren't getting enough blood and oxygen, and this can lead to fuzzy thinking, poor memory, depression, anxiety, and fatigue.
Potential side effects of beta-blockers include congestive heart failure, fatigue, heart block, dizziness, depression, decreased heartbeat and function, cold extremities, paresthesia (a feeling of "pins and needles"), shortness of breath, drowsiness, lethargy, insomnia, headaches, poor memory, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, colitis, wheezing, Raynaud's syndrome (burning, tingling, pain, numbness, or poor circulation in the hands and feet), muscle cramps, muscle fatigue, lowered libido, impotence, raised triglycerides, lowered HDL, raised LDL, and high blood sugar.
Nutritional Therapy for Treating MVP
In my experience, the best way to stop the symptoms associated with heart irregularities, including MVP, is to correct the underlying nutritional deficiencies.
Magnesium is a natural sedative that relaxes muscles, and the heart is, of course, mostly muscle. The smooth muscle contained in the blood vessel lining is also dependent on magnesium.
Magnesium acts like a beta-blocker (without the side effects) by inhibiting stimulatory hormones including norepinephrine and epinephrine (hormones that increase heart rate).
The more magnesium found within a muscle cell, the more relaxed the muscle becomes. And a relaxed heart is a happy heart.
Several studies show that magnesium reduces the symptoms of MVP, including palpitations, chest pain, and fatigue.
CoQ10
CoQ10 is a valuable nutrient for reversing MVP symptoms. The heart muscles need large amounts of CoQ10 for optimal function. Several studies have demonstrated that it can return heart function to normal.
Fish oil may also help reduce the irregular heartbeats associated with MVP.
Fish oil reduces blood pressure, inflammation, fibrinogen, irregular heart- beats (arrhythmia), atherosclerosis, triglycerides (blood fats), and platelet aggregation (blood clot formation).
I routinely recommend my patients with MVP, high blood pressure; congestive heart disease or other cardiovascular conditions take the Essential Therapeutics Healthy Heart Formula. This formula contains a high dose multivitamin/mineral formula with 500mg of magnesium, 100mg of CoQ10, and 2,000mg of pure fish oil.
I like this convenient to use pack. It combines everything my patients need to help prevent and or reverse MVP and other cardiovascular disorders.
If you’d like to know more about the Healthy Heart Formula please call the office or visit us online-
www.Treatingandbeating.com
