How do I know I have a heart murmur?
If you have an innocent heart murmur, you may have no symptoms or signs. You don’t need treatment.
Be concerned about your heart and suspect an abnormal heart murmur if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Swelling or sudden weight gain
- Shortness of breath
- Enlarged neck veins
- Heavy sweating without exertion
- Chest pain
- Dizziness or fainting
- Blue-tinged skin, particularly at your fingertips and lips
Heart murmurs can appear at any age. The most common cause of abnormal murmurs is a congenital defect, usually identified when you’re a baby.
What causes a heart murmur?
In addition to congenital problems, a heart murmur may result from:
- Valve calcification, or a hardening of your heart valves, that makes it hard for blood to flow through your heart
- Endocarditis, when the inner lining of your heart and valves become infected with bacteria
- Rheumatic fever, a serious complication of strep throat that affects the heart valves
- Mitral valve prolapse, when the valve that closes during contraction of the lower left chamber of your heart becomes faulty
- Mitral valve or aortic stenosis, narrowing of the valves on the left side of your heart
- Aortic sclerosis, which occurs during aging as your aortic valve scars, thickens, or stiffens
- Mitral or aortic regurgitation, when the blood goes the wrong way and backs into your heart, causing your heart to work harder
The team at Healing Hearts Clinic can evaluate what’s causing your heart murmur and if it needs immediate treatment.
How is a heart murmur treated?
Many heart murmurs require no treatment. But if you have an issue like high blood pressure causing your murmur, the underlying condition is treated. Options for heart murmur treatment include:
- Medications to prevent blood clots or control an irregular heartbeat
- Medicine to lower your blood pressure
- Diuretics that help reduce excess fluid buildup and remove salt from your body can also make it easier for your heart to pump regularly
If you’re born with a heart defect or have heart valve disease, surgery may be indicated.
If you’re concerned about an irregular heart murmur, call Healing Hearts Clinic today or book an appointment using the online tool.
