What is a snap on someones heart valve?
You probably have mitral valve prolapse. Basically, this means that the mitral valve does not close properly (due to abnormalities of the chordae tendinae, which are attached to the valve). Because it does not close properly, a small amount of blood can backflow through the valve each time it shuts (this can be heard as a little ‘click’ sound). About 10% of the population have mitral valve prolapse, but in the majority, the condition is completely benign. Many people go through life without any problems at all, sometimes without ever knowing that they even have the condition. In a VERY small subset of the population, mitral valve prolapse can be associated with other, much more severe heart conditions (so the mitral valve prolapse itself is still not too dangerous, but it can indicate that something ELSE is wrong). Your doctor will carefully consider your medical history, and determine whether additional tests should be performed (ie. if you have a history of cardiac problems or early
