What causes a leaky mitral valve?
Of the four valves that orchestrate the flow of blood through your heart, one of them — the mitral valve — is a bit more intricate than the others. Located within the left side of the heart, the mitral valve opens to allow oxygen-rich blood from the upper chamber (atrium) to flow down into the lower chamber (ventricle). After the powerful left ventricle contracts, the two leaflets of the mitral valve snap shut, preventing blood from flowing backward into the left atrium.
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