Patients with MVP can live normally because the condition commonly does not have noticeable symptoms. Condition management is the key factor to prevent further complications like arrhythmias and mitral valve regurgitation.

Figuring out the best sleep position is one of the good ways to manage them. Learn more about better sleep positioning that will be good for your heart health.

What Is Mitral Valve Prolapse?

The mitral valve is a valve in the heart that allows blood to flow in the right direction. MVP occurs when the flaps of the valve stretch abnormally or have extra tissue. This condition causes the leaflets to prolapse like a parachute when the heart pumps blood.

Floppy valve syndrome can develop in people at any age and gender but men older than 50 may show serious symptoms. People with health conditions like Ebstein anomaly, Scoliosis, Muscular dystrophy, and Graves’ disease are more likely to develop this disease.

3 Sleep Positions for Patients with MVP

The way you sleep at night affects your overall health. Every position has different pros and cons that you need to consider before going to bed. Patients diagnosed with mitral prolapse can try the following positions to maintain a good condition.

1. Sleep on Your Right Side

Sleeping on the right side is the best position for people with heart conditions. There is an assumption that it can restrict blood flow to the heart but the evidence is not strong enough. When you sleep on the right side, it frees your left side from pressure, allowing the heart to rest in place.

If you have sleep apnea or breathing problems, laying on the right side can also prevent discomfort while sleeping. This improves sleep quality which eventually helps improve heart health.

2. Elevate the Head

Patients with mitral valve prolapse can try to elevate their heads on the bed. Elevating the head can help reduce lung congestion issues, such as paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea and orthopnea. Add more pillows to achieve an incline position for the most effective result.

In recent days, you can find an adjustable bed that allows you to get an elevated sleeping position without adding extra pillows. It also lets you elevate the entire back for ultimate comfort.

3. Avoid Sleeping on Your Back

Patients with heart problems and breathing issues should not sleep on their back. According to research, laying face up can cause poor blood movement, blood oxygenation, and respiratory mechanics compared to a sitting position.

Regardless of the best sleeping position for MVP patients, maintaining good hygiene is another main focus to achieve a better night’s sleep. Practicing a healthy lifestyle also helps promote the quality of your sleep to improve heart health and manage its condition.

The most important thing is that you need to consult your doctor before deciding on a good laying position. Your doctors may recommend otherwise because of several factors like pregnancy or the use of medical devices.

The post Recommended Sleep Position for Mitral Valve Prolapse Patient appeared first on Living with MVP.

The main cause of Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP) is stretchy valve flaps that make the leaflets cannot close smoothly or evenly.

In some cases, the prolapse flaps cause a small amount of blood leakage which is known as regurgitation. Mitral valve Prolapse is basically not harmful but it requires treatment to manage heart health and prevent further complications.

People with this condition may develop mild to severe symptoms like irregular heartbeat, dizziness, and fatigue. Some patients also report sleep problems such as insomnia.

Can MVP cause sleep issues? Take a closer look at the following information to answer.

How Does Mitral Valve Prolapse Occur?

When the heart contracts, both flaps bulge backward into the left atrium (LA) like a parachute. This condition may cause a small amount of blood to leak through the valve, commonly known as regurgitation. It also causes a heart murmur which explains its other name.

MVP rarely causes a significant impact on your health. But talking with your doctor can help prevent complications based on your severity level. Doctors may prescribe some medications or home-based treatment to manage the conditions.

Mitral Valve Prolapse and Sleep Problems

Mitral Valve Prolapse is not a serious heart condition but it is often accompanied by minor symptoms, such as tiredness, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and headaches.

Chest pain and dizziness are other symptoms that commonly develop in people with MVP.

However, some people with this condition also report sleep problems. That becomes the question, can Mitral Valve Prolapse actually cause sleep issues?

According to research, patients with MVP develop primary neurologic disturbance. They have catecholamine abnormalities that explain some problems, including sleep disorders.

The concentration of plasma catecholamine increases significantly, causing adrenergic hyperresponsiveness in individuals with MVP. This implicates the neurological issue as a potential factor in the sleep disorder.

It may also relate to the difficulties in treating sleep disorders.

Another potential reason is that patients with MVP have extra adrenaline receptors. This causes several problems, including insomnia, fatigue, and exhausted feeling.

However, the evidence to prove that MVP alone causes sleep issues is not enough. Overactive adrenaline-releasing nerves may not cause sleep disorder, instead, chest pain may trigger adrenaline activation.

When to Treat MVP

In many instances, this condition rarely impacts your health and it does not require specific treatment. But MVP can lead to serious complications when left uninspected. You may need to talk with your health care provider if one or more of these conditions occur:

1. Symptoms Are Getting Worse
2. Severe Mitral Regurgitation
3. Arrhythmias Develop

So, Can Mitral Valve Prolapse Cause Sleep Problems?

Mitral Valve Prolapse is mostly a harmless disease that affects the heart valve. Some people believe this condition can lead to sleep problems but the evidence is not strong enough to affirm the premises. But catecholamine abnormalities that occur in people with MVP may affect sleep disorder treatments.

You might also want to fix your sleep position, it could help improve your sleep quality.

The post Can Mitral Valve Prolapse Cause Sleep Problems? appeared first on Living with MVP.