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MVP - What is it?
Last year I was diagnosed with MVP. Those who are not medically-inclined might think –Most Valuable Player? Well, not really. In the medical world it is known as Mitral Valve Prolapse. It is a heart condition wherein a doctor will most likely hear a ‘click’ in the heartbeat. At first I did not want to consult a doctor regarding my irregular heartbeat but when I started having palpitations and got tired easily I decided that I was only prolonging my agony by not going to a doctor. I could be dying, I thought. Laughing hard became such a feat that I wish no one would crack a really good joke as my heart would painfully constrict. Crying was worse. The doctor examined my ECG report with amazement – my heartbeats were so irregular that she had thought of diagnosing me extreme arrhythmia or something that sounds like it. Not one beat was as long as the other. But she listened to my heart for some minutes and told me that I have MVP, and as young as I am (24 at that time) it was something that will not likely cause my death. In fact, she added that this is a condition common to young women although most do not have symptoms as bad as mine is. It affects about 10% of the world’s population, making it the most popular heart ailment. MVP is a heart condition characterized by a click in the beating of the heart due to some abnormalities in the mitral valve – from where the name of the disease came from. And allow me to share the things that my doctor told me to watch out for. Coffee is not allowed after lunch, only in between waking up and lunch and limited to one cup a day only. Also, it should not be mixed with tea. That means that if you have drunk coffee you are not to drink tea for the rest of the day. Chocolates follow the list. The darker the chocolate, the more it is prohibited. And it counts like coffee – only in a small quantity and just once a day. What an awful thought: no chocolates! Fatty foods and meat should also be taken in moderation. Stress is third on the list. My carefree days are now over, I can’t go overnight without rest. And work should not burden me or my heart will breakdown. Even biking and swimming and badminton – my three favourite sports – should be done in moderation. How is that even possible? Any medication shall be taken with doctor’s advice. Why? Some medicines, especially those for coughs and fever may contain active components that may harm the heart. And for those of you who smoke, we’ll I advise that you now lessen those packs you consume per day. Cigarettes not only cause lung cancer but clog the arteries with fatty substances to produce atherosclerosis. That means that smoking increases the risk of having a heart attack. And with smoking comes alcohol intake. The latter damages the heart muscle and increases blood pressure. A person with MVP may not be able to overcome the strain. And salts? Those are to be taken with moderation, too. Even though the doctor left with a list of what not to do and what not to eat, she also left me with a corresponding list of what to do and what to eat. First right on the list is what our mothers had tried to make us eat when we were young: fruits and vegetables. I hate them both but I have to eat them to survive. Besides, they have fiber which is said to help offset excess fats in the diet. Oatmeal would be nice to add to the diet, too, as it helps lower the harmful cholesterol levels in the heart without affecting the good cholesterol – yes, there is such a thing as good cholesterol. The latter is medically termed as High Density Lipoprotein or HDL cholesterol – as opposed to the former being termed as Low Density Lipoprotein. Nuts are also good for the heart – and I thought that they would be banned along with the chocolates. These are high in omega three which also works in lowering LDL. And the last on the list is exercise. Biking, swimming and badminton? Exactly! But with moderation and monitoring the breathing rate at the same time, so that I will not faint. These things were advised by my doctor for me but I thought that everyone would benefit with these lists, too. Anyone can develop heart disease. Our generation has disregarded the warnings of the old one but we have not realized that it is our generation that suffered the brunt of GMOs which we are now passing to the next one. Heart problems have become more and more variegated as the years pass. It’s not too late for us to look back and evaluate our ways. Are we harming or helping our hearts? So, get that butt off that computer chair and your hands off that pizza delivery. We may be young but we must eat right and exercise to ensure that our hearts are healthy and won’t develop MVP.
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Contributor's Note
This article is about the author's experience on this disease. It is designed to impart to the reader the information about the disease and how to alleviate the pain by changing the way a person should live in a a healthy, and yet not drastic, way. The article also informs the reader that not all heart diseases are fatal and dramatic.
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That is great information to share! I could do the nuts, oatmeal (as long as granola is ok) and fruits/veggies...but wow restricting chocolate could be tough!
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
Yes, restricting chocolate was the last straw - that's why I still eat it even though it's forbidden ;O).
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