What is the most common symptom of mitral stenosis?

What is the most common symptom of mitral stenosis?

• A. Chest pain
• B. Syncope
• C. Dyspnea on exertion
• D. Palpitations

Answer: (C)

Mitral stenosis causes a bottleneck for blood moving from the left atrium to the left ventricle. This raises left atrial pressure and backs up into the pulmonary veins, leading to pulmonary congestion. During activity, the lungs can’t handle the increased flow as well, so you develop shortness of breath with exertion—the most common symptom patients report. Palpitations can occur, especially if atrial fibrillation develops, but they’re not as consistently present as dyspnea. Chest pain is not a typical feature of mitral stenosis, and syncope is relatively uncommon unless there’s more severe hemodynamic compromise or accompanying arrhythmias.

Mitral stenosis causes a bottleneck for blood moving from the left atrium to the left ventricle. This raises left atrial pressure and backs up into the pulmonary veins, leading to pulmonary congestion. During activity, the lungs can’t handle the increased flow as well, so you develop shortness of breath with exertion—the most common symptom patients report. Palpitations can occur, especially if atrial fibrillation develops, but they’re not as consistently present as dyspnea. Chest pain is not a typical feature of mitral stenosis, and syncope is relatively uncommon unless there’s more severe hemodynamic compromise or accompanying arrhythmias.