Mitral Valve Prolapse

The mitral valve is on the left side of the heart, between the left atrium (top part of the heart) and left ventricle (bottom part of the heart). Normally, the valve opens and pushes blood from the top part of the heart to the bottom which contracts to distribute blood to the whole body. During mitral valve prolapse (MVP) the mitral valve abnormally slips backwards into the top part of the heart (left atrium). Symptoms may include an irregular heartbeat, palpitations, fatigue and shortness of breath. Similar to migraine, this condition is more common in women and those with connective tissue disorders.

“A study of 230 MVP patients found that 27.8% had migraine, a proportion significantly larger than that expected in the general population. Nearly 30% of the migraineurs had migraine with aura.”¹