If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse (MVP), you’re not alone: roughly one out of every 50 adults in America has this condition. The good news is that most people with MVP lead active, symptomfree lives with little more than regular check-ups and a healthy lifestyle needed to maintain their heart health.

MVP is a condition in which the mitral valve bulges back (prolapses) into the left atrium like a tiny parachute rather than closing tightly when the left ventricle contracts and sends blood into the aorta. Sometimes this allows blood to leak backward (regurgitate) into the atrium. A little blood is usually not a problem, but serious regurgitation can cause pressure in the atrium and weaken the heart over time. That’s why a cardiologist may prescribe medication to treat the condition or, for severe MVP, recommend surgical repair or replacement of the mitral valve before the heart is irreparably damaged.