Heart Murmur: Symptoms and Treatment

A heart murmur is an unusual sound that a doctor can hear when listening to your heartbeat with a stethoscope. This sound is produced by blood flowing through your heart, and it can indicate a problem with the heart’s structure or function. In this article, we will discuss the symptoms of heart murmur, what causes them, and the available treatments.

Symptoms of Heart Murmur

Heart murmur is often asymptomatic, meaning it does not cause any symptoms. In fact, many people with heart murmur do not even know they have it. However, some people may experience symptoms, including:

Fatigue: People with heart murmur may feel tired and fatigued, which can be due to the heart having to work harder to pump blood.

Shortness of breath: This can occur when the heart is not functioning properly, making it harder to get enough oxygen to the body.

Chest pain: Chest pain is not a common symptom of heart murmur, but it can occur in some cases.

Swelling in the legs, ankles, and feet: This can occur when blood is not flowing properly through the heart, leading to fluid buildup in the legs.

If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to see a doctor, who can perform a physical examination and listen to your heart to determine if you have a heart murmur.

Causes of Heart Murmur

Heart murmur can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

Abnormal heart structure: A heart murmur can be caused by an abnormality in the heart’s structure, such as a hole in the heart, a septal defect, or an enlarged heart.

Heart valve disease: Heart valve disease can cause a heart murmur by causing the valves to not close properly, allowing blood to leak back into the heart.

Infections: Certain infections, such as endocarditis, can cause inflammation in the heart and lead to a heart murmur.

Pregnancy: Pregnant women may develop heart murmur due to the increased blood flow in their bodies.

Other conditions: Other conditions, such as anemia, hyperthyroidism, and hypertension, can also cause heart murmur.

Treatment for Heart Murmur

The treatment for heart murmur depends on the underlying cause of the murmur and the severity of the condition. In some cases, no treatment is necessary and the murmur will resolve on its own. However, in other cases, treatment may be necessary to prevent serious complications, such as heart failure or endocarditis. Some of the most common treatments for heart murmur include:

Lifestyle changes: If the heart murmur is caused by a condition that can be improved through lifestyle changes, such as high blood pressure or anemia, making changes to your diet and exercise routine can help reduce symptoms and improve heart health.

Medications: In some cases, medications can be used to treat heart murmur. For example, diuretics can be used to reduce fluid buildup in the heart, and beta blockers can be used to slow the heart rate and reduce the workload on the heart.

Surgery: In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to correct a heart abnormality or repair a damaged heart valve. This can be done through open heart surgery or a minimally invasive procedure.

Monitoring: If the heart murmur is not causing any symptoms and is not severe, your doctor may simply recommend monitoring the condition and checking in periodically to ensure it is not progressing.