Mitral valve stenosis is a heart condition that can cause potentially serious complications like pulmonary edema, blood clots and cardiovascular failure. While the disorder is normally caused by severe infections or heart defects present from birth, the weight loss drug fen-phen is also thought to cause mitral valve stenosis. Since obesity can greatly exacerbate sufferers' symptoms, keeping weight under control may play a role in treating and preventing the condition.
Mitral Valve Stenosis
Mitral valve stenosis occurs when the mitral valve located within the heart becomes narrower and does not open and close properly. When this happens, the blood flowing through the heart's chambers are obstructed. Individuals with mitral valve stenosis are often fatigued, short of breath and suffer from frequent respiratory tract infections. They may have swelling in their feet and experience heart palpitations and unusually rapid weight gain. The majority of mitral valve stenosis cases worldwide result from rheumatic fever infections that scar the mitral valve.
Mitral Valve Stenosis and Fen-Phen
The popular obesity drug fen-phen was made up of the two medications fenfluramine and phentermine. The UMass Memorial Health Care website reports that fen-phen was banned in the United States in 1997 after clinical studies conducted by the Mayo Clinic connected the drug's use to the development of heart valve problems, including mitral valve stenosis, in users.
Mitral Valve Stenosis and Weight Loss
According to CNN Health, losing weight is an effective way for people diagnosed with mitral valve stenosis to decrease the number of uncomfortable symptoms they have and prevent the risk of developing complications. CNN reports that excess weight can worsen the shortness of breath many mitral valve stenosis patients experience. Being overweight can also make possible future heart surgeries more difficult. Physicians recommend that individuals with the condition exercise regularly to lose weight and keep it off.
Treatments
There are two main types of treatments for mitral valve stenosis: both surgical and nonsurgical invasive procedures and medication. The most common medications include blood thinners and diuretics, while valvuloplasty -- surgically repairing the defective valve -- and mitral valve replacements are the most often used valvular surgeries.
Prevention
Although preventing the spread of rheumatic fever is the best way to prevent mitral valve stenosis, there is some evidence that diabetes increases the risk of developing the condition. Since obesity is a major contributing factor in type 2 diabetes, controlling your weight may provide some measure of prevention against mitral valve stenosis, as well as other heart problems.
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