• Your doctor will first review your medical history, and ask about any symptoms you’ve been experiencing, such as shortness of breath, fatigue, or heart palpitations. They will also ask about your medical history and family history of heart disease. This information helps your doctor determine your risk factors and the likelihood of mitral valve problems.

• During the physical exam, your doctor will listen to your heart using a stethoscope. Mitral regurgitation often produces a distinct heart murmur—a whooshing sound caused by blood flowing backward through the mitral valve. The doctor will pay close attention to the timing, location, and characteristics of any murmurs detected. They will also check for signs of fluid buildup in your lungs or swelling in your legs, which can indicate heart valve problems.

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  If your doctor suspects mitral regurgitation based on your symptoms and physical exam, they will likely order an echocardiogram. This non-invasive test uses sound waves to create detailed images of your heart’s structure and function. A standard transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) can often provide enough information to diagnose mitral regurgitation and assess its severity. The echocardiogram allows the doctor to visualize the mitral valve’s structure and movement, measure the size of your heart chambers, and evaluate how efficiently your heart is pumping blood.

• In some cases, a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) may be necessary. This test involves passing a small ultrasound probe down your throat to obtain clearer, more detailed images of the mitral valve. A TEE can be particularly useful if the standard echocardiogram doesn’t provide sufficient information or if your doctor needs to closely examine the structure of the valve.

• Your doctor may order a chest X-ray to check for an enlarged heart, which can be a sign of long-standing mitral regurgitation. The X-ray can also reveal signs of fluid in your lungs, another potential complication of severe mitral valve problems.

   

An electrocardiogram records your heart’s electrical activity. While it doesn’t directly diagnose mitral regurgitation, it can detect heart rhythm abnormalities or signs of heart enlargement that often accompany valve problems.

Your doctor may sometimes suggest a cardiac MRI or CT scan. These advanced imaging techniques can reveal your heart’s structure and function, confirm mitral regurgitation, and assess its severity.

While less commonly used for diagnosis, cardiac catheterization may be recommended in certain situations. This invasive procedure involves threading a thin tube through a blood vessel to your heart to measure pressure and blood flow. It’s typically reserved for cases where non-invasive tests haven’t provided sufficient information or when coronary artery disease is suspected along with mitral regurgitation.

Trust your heart health to CVG’s twenty board-certified cardiologists. Equipped with leading-edge diagnostic tools, a wealth of experience, and compassion, our cardiac team provides the highest level of personalized care.

You can review our cardiologists’ pages and explore their exceptional credentials and dedication to providing quality care. You can trust that our doctors genuinely care about you and will do everything they can to ensure you have the best quality of life possible.

To learn more, please call (770) 962-0399 or 678-582-8586. You may also request an appointment online. If you have an emergency, don’t contact us online; please call 911.