Heart murmur: what is this, causes, symptoms, diagnostics, treatment, prevention

Heart murmurs; Chest sounds – murmurs; Heart sounds – abnormal; Murmur – innocent; Innocent murmured; Systolic heart murmur; Diastolic heart murmur

Heart murmurs are sounds, that can be heard, when blood flows through the heart and surrounding blood vessels. They are usually detected with a stethoscope and can be heard by a doctor or other healthcare professional during a physical examination.. In this article, we will look at, what is a heart murmur, causes, symptoms, when to seek medical help, what to expect during diagnosis, treatment options, home remedies and prevention tips.

What is a heart murmur?

A heart murmur is an extra or unusual sound, audible by listening to the heartbeat. The sound is caused by turbulence or irregular blood flow in the heart or surrounding blood vessels. Sounds can range from a low-pitched whistle to a loud, high-pitched whiff.. They may occur continuously or intermittently and may last a few seconds or longer..

Causes of a heart murmur

Heart murmurs can be caused by various reasons., including:

• Heart valve problems: heart valves help regulate the flow of blood through the heart. If one of these valves is damaged, this can lead to abnormal blood flow, what causes noise.
• abnormal blood vessels: congenital heart disease or an acquired abnormality of the blood vessels, surrounding the heart, can lead to blood flow turbulence and cause heart murmurs.
• Heart disease: some heart diseases, such as dilated cardiomyopathy or aortic stenosis, may cause noise.
• Anemia: Low red blood cells can lead to reduced blood flow and heart murmurs.

Symptoms of a heart murmur

Heart murmurs are usually detected by a doctor during a physical examination., but in some people they can also cause symptoms. These symptoms may include:

• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Breathlessness
• Chest pain
• Fast heartbeat

When to contact a healthcare professional

If you experience any symptoms of a heart murmur, you should seek medical attention immediately. Besides, if you have a family history of heart disease or have already been diagnosed with a heart murmur, it is important to visit your doctor regularly to monitor your condition.

Questions, that your doctor may ask

During your appointment, the doctor may ask you a number of questions., to better understand your symptoms and medical history. These may include:

• When did you first notice the symptoms?
• How often do you experience symptoms?
• Have you been diagnosed with heart disease or any other heart disease in the past?
• Do you have a family history of heart disease?
• Are you experiencing any other symptoms, except for the noise in the heart?

Heart murmur diagnosis

If the doctor suspects a heart murmur, he will conduct a physical examination and listen to your heartbeat with a stethoscope. The attending physician can describe the noise in several ways.:

• Noises are classified ("estimated") whichever, how loud the noise is when using a stethoscope. The assessment is made on a scale. I degree is almost inaudible. An example of a noise description is "degree II/VI noise". (It means, that the noise has a 2nd degree on a scale from 1 to 6).
• Besides, the murmur is described by the stage of the heartbeat, when noise is heard. A heart murmur may be described as either systolic or diastolic.. (Systole is when the heart pumps out blood, and diastole is when it fills with blood.)

When the noise is more noticeable, the doctor can feel it, putting a hand on your heart. It's called "thrill" and means noise 4 degree or higher.

Other diagnostic tests, which can be used to determine the cause of the noise, include:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG): This test measures the electrical activity of the heart and can help diagnose certain heart conditions..
• Echocardiogram: this test uses high frequency sound waves to produce images of the heart, which can help determine the cause of the noise.
• Heart catheterization: in this procedure, a long, thin tube is inserted into a blood vessel and guided towards the heart to take images of the heart and blood vessels.

Treatment of heart murmurs

• Treatment for a heart murmur will depend on the underlying cause. Most innocent noises do not require treatment. For noise, associated with underlying heart disease, may need treatment to address the underlying cause. This may include medication or surgery.
• Medicines: depending on the underlying condition, your doctor may prescribe medications to treat your symptoms or to improve your heart function. This may include aspirin, beta-blockers, anticoagulants or antiarrhythmic drugs.
• Surgery: in some cases, surgery may be required to repair or replace a damaged or defective heart valve. Surgery may be recommended., if you are experiencing symptoms or if your heart is not working normally.
• Lifestyle. There are also lifestyle changes, which you can contribute, to relieve symptoms and reduce the risk of developing a heart murmur. This includes healthy eating., regular exercise, quitting alcohol and smoking and managing stress. Besides, if you have been diagnosed with an underlying heart condition, it is important to follow your doctor's instructions for managing your condition.

Generally, if you have been diagnosed with a heart murmur, it is important to follow your doctor's instructions for monitoring and treating your condition. With the right treatment approach, you can help reduce your risk of complications and improve your quality of life..

Prevention

Although there is no way to prevent heart murmurs, there are steps, you can take, to reduce the risk. These include healthy eating, physical activity, quitting alcohol and smoking, as well as stress management. Besides, if you have been diagnosed with an underlying heart condition, it is important to follow your doctor's instructions for managing your condition.

Used sources and literature

Fang JC, O'Gara PT. History and physical examination: an evidence-based approach. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald’s Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 13.

Goldman L. Approach to the patient with possible cardiovascular disease. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 45.

Otto CM, Nishimura R.A., Bonow RO, et al. 2020 ACC/AHA guideline for the management of patients with valvular heart disease: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2021;77(4):e25-197. PMID: 33342586 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33342586/.

Swartz MH. The heart. In: Swartz MH, ed. Textbook of Physical Diagnosis: History and Examination. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 14.