A heart murmur represents just an additional, sometimes an atypical sound from a human heartbeat. When the physician finds such an unusual sound via a stethoscope, it's natural for you as a patient to feel some concern. It's key to remember however that the majority aren't associated with heart disease, are completely harmless and actually quite uncommon. Murmurs don't produce symptoms by themselves, and you could live with one for decades without it causing a problem.
Murmurs are extremely common in otherwise totally healthy children. Though words like 'congenital defects' sound rather frightening, this is in no way uncommon or a reason for major worry. When these atypical noises emerge in an adult's beat as a new pathology, however, there could be an underlying illness, and further test should be done.
It's important to know what makes the sound. A typical beat has two distinct sounds, which some people describe as 'lub dub'. This is the sound of the two valves opening and closing in quick succession, as the blood moves within the organ. When a murmur occurs, the sound may have an extra or abnormal nature. When the blood isn't flowing through the valves entirely smoothly, a doctor can pick up the sound of turbulence.
The cause may be, in rarer cases, disease present in the organ's valves. These 'doors of the heart' can be affected by many things, such as infection, certain illnesses or simply aging. It's important to bear in mind that on their own, they are NOT a disease. They may however be triggered by disease.
Innocent or functional murmurs don't require medical treatment and are completely harmless and asymptomatic. There's no need to alter your diet or cut back on your physical activity. Though of course a good diet and plenty of exercise will stand you in good stead to prevent any disease occurring. So will avoiding stress, so really do not panic if your physician has detected anything.
The treatment if this suddenly occurs, when you've been having regular listening in to your heart, is dependent on any underlying causes. Relatively straightforward conditions that can be resolved easily and do create the condition include Anemia, high fevers, hyperthyroidism and yes - pregnancy. Though the latter can only be resolved in nine months.
Heart disease that requires immediate treatment and surgery in some cases include holes in the organ, Endocarditis, Valve Stenosis, regurgitation (leaking) and Sclerosis. These three are abnormalities in the valves. You probably won't be aware of any murmur yourself, but watch your general health and always get medical advice if you suffer shortness of breath and/or chest pain. These are caused by murmurs, but may be indications of more serious diseases that could need immediate attention.
Infections that can harm the valves can be as simple as Strep Throat, or as rare as the now almost eradicated rheumatic fever. An easy course of strong antibiotics is the usual prescription. Children who are born with major heart irregularities or with holes in the organ tend to have surgery when they're still babies. The underlined message, from all doctors, is that a heart murmur is in very many cases innocent, benign, not requiring treatment and not something to be worried over.
Murmurs are extremely common in otherwise totally healthy children. Though words like 'congenital defects' sound rather frightening, this is in no way uncommon or a reason for major worry. When these atypical noises emerge in an adult's beat as a new pathology, however, there could be an underlying illness, and further test should be done.
It's important to know what makes the sound. A typical beat has two distinct sounds, which some people describe as 'lub dub'. This is the sound of the two valves opening and closing in quick succession, as the blood moves within the organ. When a murmur occurs, the sound may have an extra or abnormal nature. When the blood isn't flowing through the valves entirely smoothly, a doctor can pick up the sound of turbulence.
The cause may be, in rarer cases, disease present in the organ's valves. These 'doors of the heart' can be affected by many things, such as infection, certain illnesses or simply aging. It's important to bear in mind that on their own, they are NOT a disease. They may however be triggered by disease.
Innocent or functional murmurs don't require medical treatment and are completely harmless and asymptomatic. There's no need to alter your diet or cut back on your physical activity. Though of course a good diet and plenty of exercise will stand you in good stead to prevent any disease occurring. So will avoiding stress, so really do not panic if your physician has detected anything.
The treatment if this suddenly occurs, when you've been having regular listening in to your heart, is dependent on any underlying causes. Relatively straightforward conditions that can be resolved easily and do create the condition include Anemia, high fevers, hyperthyroidism and yes - pregnancy. Though the latter can only be resolved in nine months.
Heart disease that requires immediate treatment and surgery in some cases include holes in the organ, Endocarditis, Valve Stenosis, regurgitation (leaking) and Sclerosis. These three are abnormalities in the valves. You probably won't be aware of any murmur yourself, but watch your general health and always get medical advice if you suffer shortness of breath and/or chest pain. These are caused by murmurs, but may be indications of more serious diseases that could need immediate attention.
Infections that can harm the valves can be as simple as Strep Throat, or as rare as the now almost eradicated rheumatic fever. An easy course of strong antibiotics is the usual prescription. Children who are born with major heart irregularities or with holes in the organ tend to have surgery when they're still babies. The underlined message, from all doctors, is that a heart murmur is in very many cases innocent, benign, not requiring treatment and not something to be worried over.
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