Asymptomatic Mitral Valve Regurgitation: Risks & Treatment with Dr. James Thomas

www.Heart-Valv... - Heart valve disease is often referred to as an "insidious disease" and a "silent killer". The reason? Valvular disorders can cause significant and life-threatening damage to a patient's heart without any symptoms.
To learn more about asymptomatic mitral valve regurgitation, we interviewed Dr. James Thomas, a Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, Illinois. During his 30-year career, Dr. Thomas has helped thousands of heart valve patients.
Questions asked-and-answered by Dr. Thomas in this interview include:
1. What is mitral regurgitation (MR)? Causes? Risks?
2. What are the the different types of MR?
3. How does MR progress?
4. What are the symptoms of MR?
5. What role do symptoms play in the management and treatment of MR?
6. Can you talk about the asymptomatic nature of MR? Is it common that patients with MR have no symptoms?
7. True/False: Patients with asymptomatic MR are at the same risk as those with symptoms?
8. How does NM manage and treat asymptomatic patients?
9. Do patients without symptoms actually have mitral valve surgery?
10. Is there any new research that supports NM’s approach to treating asymptomatic MR patients?
11. What is your #1 piece of advice for degenerative asymptomatic patients with MR?
To contact Dr. Thomas, please call [phone] or visit www.heart-valv....

[@sienasach1878]

I’m 15 and I have this Mitral Regurgitation- doc said it was minor and to check up in a year. It’s been six months and I get short of breath quicker, bunch of dizziness, chest pains and palpitations. Going to the Cardiologist again tomorrow. He blamed most of my symptoms on not drinking enough water (he never asked how much water I drank) and didn’t really explain what it was. This video cleared a bunch of things up. Thank you!

[@HeartValveSurgery]

Hi Sienasach, Great to hear this educational video about mitral regurgitation helped you. Good to know that your leaky valve has been diagnosed. Please continue to get regular check-ups and ask lots of questions to better your type of mitral regurgitation, its severity and its treatment (if required in the future). 👍👍👍

[@leonacw6887]

Most indepth and easily understood explanation I have seen. Thank you.

[@HeartValveSurgery]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks!

[@KM-jn7xz]

Currently being scheduled to meet with Dr. Thomas and Dr. McCarthy in the coming weeks. The more I watch and hear them the more I know I am making the right choice to take care of my MR. Thank you.

[@JeffKohn]

How did it go?

[@louannamiller9219]

They will take care of you. I’m their patient.

[@cynergie7443]

Im about to address mitral and tricuspid mild regurgitation with a heart specialist at UIC in Chicago. Im pretty nervous but this video was so informative thank you guys!

[@jingwills6267]

I got the same, I would ask my cardiologist next appt if I can have them fix early.

[@HeartValveSurgery]

Great!

[@louannamiller9219]

Dr Thomas is my cardiologist. Dr McCarthy was my surgeon. Amazing heart valve specialist at Northwestern Medicine.

[@KandulaRajababu]

Sir address pls

[@HeartValveSurgery]

Sounds like you had the A+++ team with Dr. Patrick McCarthy and Dr. James Thomas at Northwestern Medicine!

[@pdxwildchildroberts5586]

Great vid...I was diagnosed MTR 4mo ago in Aug.. I am still waitng for a procedure called TE to determine the severity, and what surgery procedure I require..it is freightning to feel like a ticking time bomb..I feel they dont sense any urgency..pfff, it's just my heart, no big deal😢..the stress I feel cant be healthy..they say the delay is bcuz of nationwide "anesthesia shortage" ...guess possible stroke, or worse doesn't qualify me as a priority..I said do it "without" ..this is absurd

[@magicf7076]

These video's are so helpful. Thank you, thank you again for all you efforts! 👌

[@HeartValveSurgery]

Wonderful to hear!

[@TimberWolf2025]

Thank you Dr. Thomas and Adam Pick for this very valuable information.

[@HeartValveSurgery]

Glad it was helpful!

[@erikahahn5823]

Very helpful channel.

[@HeartValveSurgery]

Thanks!

[@davidpowell3347]

At about 11:00 mention of runners with MR,I guess if/when atrial fibrillation rears its head the person would surely become aware of drastically reduced function

[@HeartValveSurgery]

Yes, a stress echo can be helpful in the diagnostic process for cardiac conditions including mitral regurgitation.

[@dennislurvey3235]

My mitral regurg filled up my lung with pulmonary edema and I nearly died, but that is not bad enough to repair apparently. In fact they lie about where my symptoms are coming from so they won't have to. I really don't know what to do.

[@davidpowell3347]

Might be time for a new Doctor.

[@HeartValveSurgery]

Good idea. Maybe a second opinion could be helpful!

[@dennislurvey3235]

@@HeartValveSurgery a lot of them will say if the regurg is not severe they wont treat you. but that misreads the AHA instructions. If ytou have symptoms from your valve they have to treat them, no matter the amount of regurg. They may, and did to me, try to tell you your obvious heart symptoms are cause by something else, but that is a common lie. they may send you to talek tests like an angiogram to find the culprit. for years they couldn't treat valves without opening the chest, but now they do it by catheter.

[@shannonholmes5130]

Check your magnesium level. Look up dr. Eric berg he explains why and how to fix it

[@GloriaObryant]

I went to the heart dr and had all the tests done and was told that I had leaked heart value. But went back and sent the surgery and he said my heart was in good shape and I had acid reflux real bad So can that be mistaken for that leaking value.

[@HeartValveSurgery]

Maybe the leaking valve is not leaking enough to warrant a surgery?

[@tiffanybailey2777]

Thank you. So informative

[@HeartValveSurgery]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@omkartiwari4585]

Sir my age is 22 and I have got MILD MVP with trival regurgitation. sir can I play any outdoor sports ? plzz reply I am worried as I am looking to pursue my career in sports 🙏🙏🙏

[@melvinlim-darktrader786]

same

[@omkartiwari4585]

@@melvinlim-darktrader786 do you have any other symptoms like High blood pressure , chest pain , ectopic beats etc ?

[@MzDaUgly]

@@omkartiwari4585 i don’t have MVP but i do have trace regurgitation my symptoms are palpations, shortness of breathe , and dizziness upon standing

[@RealTalk_Chris]

@@MzDaUgly how long have you had trace regurgitation? And is it both valves or just one. You only have palpitations when you stand or sit down?

[@HeartValveSurgery]

As each patient is unique, we encourage you to discuss this with your medical team.

[@DVelez-wz3fe]

I think the correct term is Romany people

[@HeartValveSurgery]

We did not know that. Thanks for sharing!