Please Note: Due to volume considerations, not all questions can be answered. Questions most likely to be answered will be those of general interest to a broad group of visitors to this forum. Questions pertaining to a specific case; requests for diagnosis, medical advice, or second opinion; or requests for opinions about untested alternative therapies will generally not be answered.
|
|
 |  |
 |
 |
Mitro Insuf
Sep 6, 2001
Hello Dr. Feinberg,
I am a 37 yr. old female. HIV+ possibly since 1988. I suffer from periodic low (bottom number has been 56-65) blood pressure. But not orthostatic hypotension. I feel faint sometimes. My chest hurts, where the ribs meet. I feel like i have to lie down, or faint. Sometimes i get alot of saliva in my mouth during these episodes, light nausea. I am on Combivir. Had a Echo 2 yrs ago, the finding was mild-mitro valve insufficiency. Is, or can this become progressive? Chest x-rays have been normal. Are my symptoms suggestive of this? Could I be at risk for having a heart attack? I feel like i am having one sometimes with the pain in my sternum. I am going to get another echocardiogram performed this week. Any info will help. Thank you.
|
 |
|
 |
|
Response from Dr. Feinberg
Mitral valve insufficiency can progree and become more severe over time in some people. This is a problem with the heart valves not closing properly, so some blood leaks back into the heart chamber instead of being pumped out to the rest of the body. Sometimes, if a heart attack affects the muscle that opens and closes the valve, the mitral insufficiency can be caused by a heart attack, but most of the time mitral valve dysfunction and heart attacks are not connected. Some peole with a condition called "mitral valve prolapse" can have chest discomfort, and mitral insufficiency can cause feelings of weakness and dizziness.
Make sure you get the doctor to explain your echo results to you carefully in language that you understand, and make sure you tell the doctor all of your symptoms. Good luck!
|
|
|
 Please remember that this forum is designed for educational purposes only, and experts are not engaged through this
forum in rendering legal or medical advice or professional services. Experts appearing on this page are independent and are solely responsible
for editing and fact-checking their material. Neither The Body nor any sponsor is the publisher or speaker of posted visitors' questions or the experts' material.
Questions and messages posted to this forum are not statements of advice, opinion, or information of The Body, Body Health Resources Corporation or any sponsor of this
forum. While neither The Body nor Body Health Resources Corporation regularly reviews posted content, we reserve the right to delete, move, or
edit postings if we deem it appropriate under the circumstances. Visitors submitting questions remain solely responsible for the content of their
messages.
Information provided by experts is general only and should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease, or relied upon as
legal or other professional advice. This information is not a substitute for professional advice or care. If you have or suspect you may have a
health or legal problem, you should consult your own health care provider or your attorney.
Copyright notice.
|
|
|
|
