tif@gamma.UUCP (Barbara Charles) (02/11/86)
>You'd think a fire chief who'd been through quite a bit of paramedic >training (he had) would know enough to look for something abnormal. MVP is not abnormal. Most people never know they have it. I was diagnosed as having MVP in September of 1985. I went to a doctor with heart palpitations, difficulty breathing, a pain in the chest, dizziness, feeling faint, etc. These are all symptoms of MVP. It occurs more frequently in women (ages 25 to 45, although it is not just this age group). Usually a person will find out they have it for a routine medical check-up. A doctor will usually hear a "tik" caused by the valve not closing tightly after the blood has rushed through. If a doctors listens to your heart while you are laying down on your side - it can be heard clearly or clearer. It is difficult to hear and doctors' (or anyone else for that matter) don't look for it unless there is a problem (symptoms as stated above). Most people do not suffer any symptoms and go through life without every thinking about their "heart murmur" (probably was the case with the fireman who passed). Unfortunately, not knowing about it can cause serious problems (like death) if you get some kind of infection (usually in the blood); that is why people have to take penicillin before going to the dentists. (All those needles and drilling into places unknown). According to my doctor, it does not increase changes of heart attack or heart disease. Very few people, like myself, suffer serious problems (that is dizziness, breathing, etc.). I was on heart medication for awhile to regulate my heart beat but that has been discontinued. Doctors are concerned if you have this condition (MVP), that you take penicillin 1 hour before going to the doctor and then 6 hours later to try to prevent any infection. My doctor gave a standing order for penicillin at my drugstore so I don't have to call him every time I go to the dentists. I do not worry about my MVP until it acts up. If I am overtired or if I take over 50 g of Vitamin B, for some reason my heart starts its palpitations again. If I don't let up on whatever I'm doing - like get some rest - the difficulty in breathing starts, pain in chest, then the fainting, etc. Chances are the fireman didn't know he even had MVP - the doctors probably never heard the characteristic "tik" or if they did - he probably got the characteristic "There's nothing to be concerned about." I have some written documentation if anyone is interested in it. Barbara Charles Bell Communications Research 290 W. Mt. Pleasant Avenue Rm 1B-146 Livingston, N.J. 07039