What does murmur in the heart mean?

What does murmur in the heart mean?

A heart murmur is an extra noise heard during a heartbeat. The noise is caused when blood does not flow smoothly through the heart. Heart murmurs can be innocent (harmless) or abnormal (caused by a heart problem). Some causes are fever, anemia, or heart valve disease.

What causes murmurs to be heard during auscultation?

A heart murmur is a blowing, whooshing, or rasping sound heard during a heartbeat. The sound is caused by turbulent (rough) blood flow through the heart valves or near the heart.

What is auscultation of heart sounds?

The purpose of auscultation of the heart is to characterize heart sounds and murmurs. (See “Examination of the precordial pulsation” and “Examination of the arterial pulse” and “Examination of the jugular venous pulse”.) This topic will review the auscultation of heart sounds.

What are the most common heart murmurs?

The most common type of heart murmur is called functional or innocent. An innocent heart murmur is the sound of blood moving through a healthy heart in a normal way.

Where murmurs are heard best?

The murmur is actually due to MR that accompanies the mitral valve prolapse; thus, it is heard best at the cardiac apex. Mitral valve prolapse responds to dynamic auscultation.

What are the risks of a heart murmur?

What are the risk factors for heart murmurs?

• Being born with a heart defect, such as a hole in a heart wall.
• A family history of heart defects or heart murmurs.
• Having had bacterial endocarditis or rheumatic fever.
• Heart-valve problems.
• Intravenous drug use.

How do they treat a heart murmur?

Surgery or other procedures Surgery may be needed to correct a condition that causes a worrisome heart murmur. For example, if a narrowed or leaky heart valve is causing the murmur and other symptoms, heart valve repair or replacement may be needed. During heart valve repair, a surgeon might: Patch holes in a valve.

Can you live a normal life with a heart murmur?

If you or your child has an innocent heart murmur, you can live a completely normal life. It will not cause you any problems and is not a sign of an issue with your heart. If you have a murmur along with any of the following symptoms, see your doctor: You are very tired.

What are two possible causes for heart murmurs?

Causes

• Flow murmurs: Exercise, pregnancy, and anemia can all cause a high blood flow, as can hyperthyroidism, fever, and rapid growth spurts.
• Valve disease-related murmurs: Problems with a valve in the heart, such as aortic stenosis or a bicuspid aortic valve, can lead to a heart murmur.

How do you identify a murmur?

Tests

1. Echocardiogram. This is the main test used to determine the cause of a heart murmur.
2. Chest X-ray. A chest X-ray is a picture of the heart and lungs.
3. Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). This quick and painless test measures the electrical activity of the heart.
4. Cardiac catheterization.

How do you cure a heart murmur?

Some common medications used to treat heart murmurs include the following:

1. statins—medications that lower your cholesterol.
2. beta blockers or ACE inhibitors—medications that lower your blood pressure.
3. aspirin or warfarin—these medications are anti-coagulants because they help prevent blood clots from forming.