Heart Murmur Treatment Next Steps. A heart murmur is when your heart makes an unusual sound as blood is flowing through your heart. Hearts that have murmurs make a swishing or whooshing sound. Heart murmurs are very common: 10 percent of adults will have a heart murmur. These are called innocent heart murmurs Heart murmurs that are caused by diseases or structural problems in your heart may need treatment.
These are called abnormal heart murmurs Abnormal Heart Murmurs Heart murmurs that are caused by infections, birth defects, or diseases can be dangerous. Heart Defects Septal defects are holes inside the heart. Valve problems include: Aortic valve stenosis: this is when your aortic valve becomes thickened and narrowed. This narrowing makes it harder for your heart to pump blood out to your body.
It may cause symptoms like shortness of breath and fatigue. Mitral stenosis: this is when your mitral valve becomes narrowed, making it harder for blood to flow from your left atrium to your left ventricle. Mitral stenosis is often caused by rheumatic heart disease from past strep throat infections. Mitral stenosis can cause shortness of breath and fatigue. Aortic root aneurysm : this is when the first part of your aorta dilates becomes wider than it should.
Aortic root aneurysms can cause your aortic valve to work incorrectly, which can cause a heart murmur. Many conditions, including genetic disorders like Marfan Syndrome, can cause aortic root aneurysms. Cardiologists and surgeons who specialize in treating aortic disease can evaluate and manage this type of aneurysm. Mitral regurgitation happens when blood leaks backward through your mitral valve when your heart beats. Aortic insufficiency : this happens when blood leaks backward through your aortic valve in between heartbeats.
Tricuspid regurgitation : this happens when blood leaks backward through the valve on the right side of your heart. Do Heart Murmurs Need Surgery? Some common medications used to treat heart murmurs include the following: statins —medications that lower your cholesterol beta blockers or ACE inhibitors —medications that lower your blood pressure aspirin or warfarin —these medications are anti-coagulants because they help prevent blood clots from forming If something is wrong with your heart—for example, if you have a hole in your heart or one of your heart valves needs to be replaced—then you may need surgery.
Heart Murmur Treatment. Valve Surgery Surgeries for heart murmurs often include valve repair and valve replacement. These surgeries treat the underlying valve problems in your heart that are causing the murmur. Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Transcatheter aortic valve replacement also known as TAVR or TAVI is also a good treatment option for patients who can't have surgery, or for patients who want a less invasive option than open heart surgery.
Learn more about TAVR. MitraClip The MitraClip is a tiny device about the size of a dime that treats mitral regurgitation. Can watching sports increase your risk of a heart attack? Dr Paul Chiam, cardiologist at Mount Elizabeth Hospital, discusses the tests used to screen for heart disease. Listen to your body and understand your limits before attempting to go past your maximum heart rate during a workout.
Officially, high blood pressure affects So, how can we go about treating this silent killer? The short answer is no. As heart disease could lead to a heart attack or stroke, it is important to make healthy lifestyle changes sooner rather than later. Here are 5 eating tips for a healthier heart. Little daily habits play an important role in keeping your heart healthy. Dr Kenneth Guo gives tips on how to strengthen your heart. Dr Paul Chiam discusses the dangers of high blood pressure and the different treatment options to reduce it.
When is blood pressure considered too high? Find out why blood pressure guidelines have recently changed in the United States, and what it means for you. You have heard time and again that eating whole grains is the healthy way to go.
But why? Dietitians tell us how exactly whole grains are beneficial for our health. Minimally invasive surgery can improve treatment and recovery time for patients with damaged heart valves.
Evidence shows that stress is a risk factor for heart disease, but how exactly does stress affect your heart?
Any heart surgery comes with risks, thus the transcatheter aortic valve implantation TAVI to improve the treatment of deadly heart diseases has been a welcomed effort. We have been told one too many times that being overweight or obese is bad, but did you know the extent of damage obesity has on your health? But what is the assumption behind this theory, and is it valid? Your morning cup does way more than boost your energy. Dr Ooi Yau Wei talks about how caffeine affects your health.
The good news is that not all chest pain signals a heart problem. Dr Ooi Yau Wei explains the possible causes of chest pain and how to tell if the pain is heart-related. Silent heart attacks are more common than we think, and they can happen without the victim realising it. Cardiologist Dr Leslie Tay talks about the subtle signs you should watch out for. Like mother, like child. Cardiologist Dr Nandakumar Ramasami talks about what cholesterol is, and the latest developments in managing cholesterol levels.
Women's hearts are different from men's hearts, and require special attention. Dr Stanley Chia explains the unique heart disease symptoms in women and how women can care for their hearts. Even the fittest athletes can succumb to heart disease. Dr Leslie Tay, cardiologist, advises on reducing the risk of sudden cardiac arrest during sports.
Most strokes are preventable. Dr Michael Lim, cardiologist, talks about the importance of prevention and what you should do. The age-old adage — laughter is the best medicine — may not be accurate after all. Dr Julian Tan explains happy heart syndrome. A fast, irregular heart beat can be triggered by anxiety or emotional stress, but it may also be a symptom of a condition atrial fibrillation.
Dr Kenneth Ng, cardiologist, explains. A history of heart disease in the family is a risk factor, so go for a heart screening to identify any problems early. Emotional stress has been shown to trigger heart attacks. Sometimes known as broken heart syndrome, it may be triggered by episodes of grief, anger or fear. Guys — listen up. Men generally face a higher risk of heart disease than women. Yet, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women.
Any form of aerobic exercise is good for the heart. Aim to exercise for at least 30 minutes, 5 times a week. Smokers are up to 3 times more likely to suffer heart attacks. The sooner you quit, the more you can reduce your chances of getting sick. Your sporting preference can say a lot about your personality. Here are the exercises that best suit your character — and how they can help your heart health. When it comes to heart procedures, the last thing you need is for the treatment to burn a hole in your wallet.
Talk to your insurance agent and find out how to get yourself covered. Heart murmurs can be harmless innocent or abnormal. An innocent heart murmur is not a sign of heart disease and doesn't need treatment.
Abnormal heart murmurs require follow-up testing to determine the cause. Treatment is directed at the cause of your abnormal heart murmur. An abnormal heart murmur may cause the following signs and symptoms, depending on the cause of the murmur:. Most heart murmurs aren't serious, but if you think you or your child has a heart murmur, make an appointment to see your family doctor.
Your doctor can tell you if the heart murmur is innocent and doesn't require any further treatment or if an underlying heart problem needs to be further examined. A person with an innocent murmur has a normal heart. This type of heart murmur is common in newborns and children.
An innocent murmur can occur when blood flows more rapidly than normal through the heart. Conditions that may cause rapid blood flow through your heart, resulting in an innocent heart murmur, include:.
Innocent heart murmurs may disappear over time, or they may last your entire life without ever causing further health problems. In adults, abnormal murmurs are most often due to acquired heart valve problems. In children, abnormal murmurs are usually caused by structural problems of the heart congenital heart defects.
In older children and adults, causes of abnormal heart murmurs include infections and conditions that damage the structures of the heart. For example:. This infection of the inner lining of your heart and valves typically occurs when bacteria or other germs from another part of your body, such as your mouth, spread through your bloodstream and get stuck in your heart.
Left untreated, endocarditis can damage or destroy your heart valves. This condition usually occurs in people who already have heart valve problems. You have an increased risk of a heart murmur if someone in your family had a heart defect associated with the unusual sounds. Having uncontrolled diabetes or a rubella infection during pregnancy increases your baby's risk of developing heart defects and a heart murmur. Use of certain medications, alcohol or drugs during pregnancy can lead to heart defects in a developing baby, which may cause a heart murmur.
While there's not much you can do to prevent a heart murmur, it is reassuring to know that heart murmurs are not a disease and are often harmless.
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