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