Andy Barr’s wife cause of death: What is mitral valve prolapse, floppy valve syndrome? – TODAY

By A. Pawlowski

The sudden passing of Eleanor Carol Barr, the 39-year-old wife of U.S. Rep. Andy Barr of Kentucky, is putting the spotlight on mitral valve prolapse, or floppy valve syndrome, listed as the cause of her death after a preliminary autopsy.

Barr passed away unexpectedly Tuesday evening at home in Lexington, Kentucky.

Normally, people dont die from the condition, said Dr. Jennifer Haythe, the co-director of the Women's Center for Cardiovascular Health at the Columbia University Medical Center and a cardiologist at New York-Presbyterian hospital. She did not treat Barr.

It might create a lot of anxiety for people who have mitral valve prolapse to see a story like this, but in general, they can be reassured that this is not something we normally see, Haythe told TODAY.

Sudden death is very, very rare and is probably related to arrhythmia.

The heart has four valves that open and close to ensure healthy blood circulation that moves forward. The mitral valve, which is composed of two flaps, allows blood to be pumped from left atrium into the left ventricle of the heart, but not back the other way.

In a mitral valve prolapse, the two valve flaps don't close properly, but bulge or flop back into the left atrium, according to the American Heart Association. That may lead to the backflow of blood, which can cause a heart murmur an unusual whooshing or swishing sound heard between heartbeats.

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The exact cause is a mystery most people with the condition are born with it and it tends to run in families, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

Its estimated 3-5% of the general population has MVP, the Cleveland Clinic noted.

Women are affected twice as often as men, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Aging also raises the risk. Sometimes, it can progress and should be followed over time, Haythe cautioned. As the valve prolapses more, you develop more leakiness of the valve and you need a valve replacement potentially down the road.

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute said other conditions associated with MVP include:

Usually, a persons doctor will hear a murmur while listening to the heart with a stethoscope during a routine physical exam, Haythe said. Since the condition tends to run in families, patients will often know one of their parents has MVP and get checked for it, she added.

Sometimes, its picked up on an echocardiogram that was ordered for another reason.

The condition can be mild or severe in mild cases, its possible for people to not know they have it.

If you dont have a loud murmur from it and if its mild, it could go undetected, Haythe noted. If its significant enough that you can hear a murmur or theres a leakiness in the valve, it should be picked up by a physician.

Most people dont have any symptoms. Most also live a normal, active life, Haythe said.

When symptoms do appear, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute listed these warning signs:

Most people dont need any treatment because they either have no symptoms or it doesnt impact their health. MVP rarely becomes a serious condition, the American Heart Association noted. Haythe said she sees it often in her practice and has never had a patient suffer a sudden death.

Palpitations and chest discomfort can be treated with medicines.

Only a small percentage of patients with MVP have a severe form of it, which can cause life-threatening arrhythmia, or abnormal heartbeats, and complications such as heart attack and stroke. Those cases may require heart surgery to repair or replace the mitral valve.

A. Pawlowski is a TODAY contributing editor focusing on health news and features. Previously, she was a writer, producer and editor at CNN.

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Andy Barr's wife cause of death: What is mitral valve prolapse, floppy valve syndrome? - TODAY