Mayo Clinic Radio: Structural heart disease

Structural heart disease is a problem with the tissues or valves of the heart. The valves in your heart control the flow of blood from one part of the heart to another. The mitral valve is located between the two chambers on the left side of the heart — the left atrium and left ventricle. There are several abnormalities that can affect the mitral valve. Two common forms of mitral valve disease are mitral valve regurgitation and mitral valve stenosis. In mitral valve regurgitation, the valve leaks. In mitral valve stenosis, the valve is too narrow and restricts the blood flow. Treatment for mitral valve disease can range from monitoring and making healthy lifestyle changes to surgical procedures to repair or replace the mitral valve.