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Mitral Stenosis Symptoms & Diagnosis

Symptoms

Symptoms may include:

  • Difficulty breathing, especially during exercise and when lying flat
  • Awakening short of breath in the middle of the night
  • Fatigue
  • Chest pain, such as squeezing, pressure, or tightness (rare)
  • Sensation of rapid or irregular heartbeat (palpitations)
  • Cough with exertion
  • Coughing up blood
  • Swelling of the legs or feet
  • Frequent respiratory infections
  • Dizziness, fainting

Diagnosis

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

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