Summary about Disease
A heart murmur is an extra sound heard during a heartbeat. It's caused by turbulent blood flow through the heart or nearby blood vessels. Murmurs can be "innocent" (harmless) or indicative of an underlying heart problem.
Symptoms
Many heart murmurs are asymptomatic. When symptoms are present, they may include:
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Fainting
Cyanosis (bluish skin)
Poor weight gain in infants
Causes
Heart murmurs can be caused by:
Congenital heart defects (present at birth)
Heart valve abnormalities (stenosis, regurgitation)
Anemia
Hyperthyroidism
Pregnancy
Infection (e.g., endocarditis, rheumatic fever)
Fever
Medicine Used
Medications used depend entirely on the underlying cause of the heart murmur. Some possibilities include:
Diuretics: To reduce fluid buildup.
ACE inhibitors/ARBs: To lower blood pressure and ease strain on the heart.
Beta-blockers: To slow heart rate and lower blood pressure.
Anticoagulants: To prevent blood clots.
Antibiotics: To treat infections like endocarditis.
In some cases, no medication is needed, especially for innocent murmurs.
Is Communicable
No. Heart murmurs themselves are not communicable. However, some underlying causes, such as infections like endocarditis, can be caused by infectious agents.
Precautions
Precautions depend on the underlying cause. General precautions for heart health include:
Maintaining a healthy weight.
Eating a heart-healthy diet.
Exercising regularly.
Avoiding smoking.
Managing blood pressure and cholesterol.
Following doctor's recommendations regarding medications and lifestyle changes.
How long does an outbreak last?
Heart murmurs are not outbreaks. The duration of a heart murmur depends on the underlying cause and whether it is treatable. An innocent murmur may disappear on its own. A murmur caused by a structural defect may be constant until corrected.
How is it diagnosed?
Diagnosis involves:
Physical Exam: Listening to the heart with a stethoscope.
Echocardiogram: Ultrasound of the heart to visualize its structure and function.
Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG): Records the electrical activity of the heart.
Chest X-ray: Can show heart size and lung condition.
Cardiac Catheterization: In some cases, a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel to directly measure heart pressures and blood flow.
Timeline of Symptoms
This varies greatly depending on the cause.
Innocent murmurs: Often detected in childhood and may disappear over time.
Congenital defects: Murmurs are often present from birth or shortly after.
Acquired murmurs (e.g., valve disease): Symptoms may develop gradually over years.
Murmurs due to temporary conditions (e.g., pregnancy, anemia): Symptoms appear and resolve with the condition.
Important Considerations
Not all heart murmurs are serious.
It's crucial to determine the underlying cause of a heart murmur.
Regular follow-up with a cardiologist may be necessary.
Some heart conditions causing murmurs require surgical intervention.
Prophylactic antibiotics may be recommended before certain dental or surgical procedures for people with specific heart conditions to prevent endocarditis.