How to Recognise and Manage Heart Murmurs

Heart murmurs is a term that means murmur related to the heart. They may sound dangerous, but not all murmurs are life-threatening. A heart murmur, therefore, refers to any other sound produced during blood flow in the heart and is usually described as a blowing sound. While some murmurs pose no risks in any way, others could suggest the existence of more serious heart problems. This blog dissects the different approaches that can be utilised in managing heart murmurs. As a responsible citizen or someone who might be concerned about one’s health or that of a family member, it’s better to stay informed about heart health.

What is a heart murmur?

A murmur, therefore, refers to the noise produced by the turbulent flow of blood through the heart cavity. It is a sound, like a whooshing or swishing noise, which the doctors can listen to through a specific instrument known as the stethoscope. A normal heartbeat has two sounds: ‘lub-dub’, which is the sound of the closing of the valves between the chambers as blood flows through it. When there is an issue with how blood is circulating, it produces these additional sounds – what we refer to as heart murmurs.

Types of heart murmur

• Innocent heart murmurs: These are non-threatening and caffect children or young adults. A normal heart murmur has no heart problem and fades away on its own. It is actually rather common to have an innocent murmur, and many people with this type of murmur lead normal, healthy lives and are completely unaware that they even have one!
• Abnormal heart murmurs: These might point to a heart mutation, such as the presence of congenital heart disease, leakages in the valves of the heart, the presence of holes in the heart, or any other complications relating to the heart. Abnormal murmurs need more attention and additional visits to define the cause of this pathology.

What to watch out for heart murmurs?

People with heart murmurs often remain asymptomatic, and a murmur is found accidentally during a physical examination or an ECG. However, when heart murmurs are secondary to another condition, signs of an issue are present. Here are some common heart murmur symptoms to keep in mind:

• Shortness of breath: Other than short breathlessness during exercise, signs that may prompt a visit to the doctor include.
• Chest pain or discomfort: This can have a knifelike quality to it or a sense of pressure in the chest area, as may be experienced when a doctor diagnoses oneself.
• Fatigue: Autonomic signs such as a weak or light-headed feeling, dizziness or fainting, difficulty swallowing or dry mouth may also be associated with a murmur.
• Swelling: If a person experiences some pain, ‘hard-belly’, or queue-belly as they are traditionally referred to, stiffness, and/or heaviness in their legs, feet, or abdomen, there is a high chance of experiencing some heart trouble.
• Fainting or dizziness: Any symptom, such as dizziness, fainting, or falling down, can indicate the presence of irregular heartbeats or problems with the valves.

Diagnosing heart murmurs

If your doctor hears a heart murmur during a general check-up, it is nothing to be worried about! They will often do other tests to know what is causing it and whether it needs treatment.

Here are some common diagnostic tools:

• Echocardiogram: This is a scan of the body part responsible for blood circulation in the body, showing details of how it is formed. It is often done in the assessment of heart murmurs.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): The following test gives information about the heart’s electrical activity and can pick up abnormal heartbeats.
• Chest X-ray: An X-ray allows the doctor to see how big or small your heart and lungs are and what type of heart disease they might be.
• Cardiac catheterisation: Depending on your circumstances, a doctor may want to use this test in order to evaluate the heart’s performance and monitor blood pressure inside the heart.

Managing heart murmurs

The management of a heart murmur varies with the specific type of heart disease responsible for the murmur. Innocent heart murmurs do not require any treatment; therefore, one may require only follow-up examinations. With regard to overall management, depending on the aetiology of a given abnormal heart murmur, the general management will be based on the primary diagnosis.

• Medications: In cases where heart murmurs are due to valve disorders, infections or other diseases, the doctor may recommend certain medicines. Some are starting drugs such as anti-hypertensives, anti-coagulants, or antibiotics where the patient has an infection.
• Surgery: More complex cases may require surgical intervention to correct or replace the valves of the heart. Surgical interventions include valve repair or replacement with mechanical or bioprosthetic valve prosthesis.
• Lifestyle changes: Living a lifestyle that is friendly to the heart can go a long way in preventing the symptoms from aggravating or worsening. This ranges from a well-balanced diet, exercise, abstaining from smoking, and management of illnesses like hypertension and diabetes, respectively.

Conclusion

Many people think heart murmurs are dangerous and should be operated on immediately, while others simply think they should not be heard at all. Regardless of whether these are entirely normal or pathological, one should not ignore symptoms of the heart murmur and consult a doctor if necessary. Nowadays, people know how to diagnose and treat heart diseases, so you can lead a healthy life despite the problem.