The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam. The doctor may be alerted to mitral stenosis by the following:
-
Abnormal chest sounds, such as a
heart murmur
or snap
- Distention of the jugular vein in the neck
- Signs of fluid in the lungs
Tests may include:
- Chest x-ray
—a test that uses radiation to take pictures of structures inside the chest
- Electrocardiogram
(ECG, EKG)—a test that records the heart's activity by measuring electrical currents through the heart muscle
- Echocardiogram
—a test that uses high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to examine the size, shape, and motion of the heart; in this test, the sound waves are passed through a transducer that is placed onto your chest.
- Transesophageal echocardiogram—uses the same ultrasound techniques to create an image of your heart, but gives a more detailed image. In this test, the transducer is passed down your esophagus (the tube in your throat that runs from your mouth into your stomach), to allow a better examination of the mitral valve.
- Cardiac catheterization
—an x-ray of the heart's circulation that is done after injection of a contrast dye
- Holter monitor—a portable EKG device that you wear for 24 or more hours, to detect heart rhythm abnormalities that often accompany mitral stenosis