Sometimes the widening is done with a cardiac catheter. Sometimes it requires open-heart surgery. Sometimes the mitral valve damage is so severe that you may need to have the valve replaced. This is usually done before your heart is permanently damaged. Because artificial heart valves don't last forever, your health care provider won't want to do this until it is necessary.
Mechanical valves tend to last longer, but they are more prone to cause blood clots and strokes.
You may have mitral valve stenosis with few or no symptoms most of your life. You may go through a long period before symptoms become noticeable and then gradually worsen. Permanent heart damage can occur if you don't get treatment when your symptoms worsen. See your health care provider regularly so you can get the proper treatment as early as possible. Follow the treatment your health care provider prescribes.