A heart murmur is just an atypical or extra sound in the regular beat of a person or animal. When your doctor, by using their stethoscope, detects unusual or additional sounds, it's only natural to be concerned. It's good to know though that the majority are harmless, unrelated to any heart disease and are really quite common. Murmurs don't produce symptoms, and you could have had these sounds for years without detection or it causing you any problems.
Murmurs are very often heard in perfectly healthy children. Though the thought of a congenital defect sounds frightening, it's by no means uncommon or a cause for worry. When they are detected as a new pathology in adults, however, so as a new 'symptom', there may be an underlying cause. This is especially true if there are other symptoms of heart disease.
It is important to be aware of how the sounds are made. A usual beat is made up of two clear sounds, which make a 'lub dub' noise. This is, simply, the sound made by two sets of valves within the organ opening then closing quickly after one another, as your blood is pumped around within your heart. When murmurs happen, the sound may not be the same, or carry extra noise. When the blood doesn't flow in and out of the valves smoothly, doctors will hear sounds caused by turbulence.
This could be, but is not always, due to valve disease. The valves can be affected by several things, including infection, simple aging and certain diseases. It's vital to keep in mind that on its own, this is NOT a disease. It can however be caused by one.
Functional or innocent murmurs don't need medical treatment and are usually completely harmless, without symptoms. There's no need for changes to diet or physical activity levels. Though, naturally good food and lots of exercise puts you in better shape to prevent disease of any kind to this organ. So is avoiding stress, so try not to panic if your doctor detects something.
The treatment if this suddenly occurs, when you've been having regular listening in to your heart, is dependent on any underlying causes. Relatively straightforward conditions that can be resolved easily and do create the condition include Anemia, high fevers, hyperthyroidism and yes - pregnancy. Though the latter can only be resolved in nine months.
Diseases of this organ which will require treatment quickly and possibly surgery include Endocarditis, a hole in the heart, Valve Stenosis, Sclerosis or regurgitation. These last three are all abnormalities of the organ valve. You'll usually be unaware of such a problem yourself, but keep an eye on your general health and always seek advice for chest pain and shortness of breath. These won't be caused by a murmur at all, but could be serious symptoms of other diseases.
Infections that can harm the valves can be as simple as Strep Throat, or as rare as the now almost eradicated rheumatic fever. An easy course of strong antibiotics is the usual prescription. Children who are born with major heart irregularities or with holes in the organ tend to have surgery when they're still babies. The underlined message, from all doctors, is that a heart murmur is in very many cases innocent, benign, not requiring treatment and not something to be worried over.
Murmurs are very often heard in perfectly healthy children. Though the thought of a congenital defect sounds frightening, it's by no means uncommon or a cause for worry. When they are detected as a new pathology in adults, however, so as a new 'symptom', there may be an underlying cause. This is especially true if there are other symptoms of heart disease.
It is important to be aware of how the sounds are made. A usual beat is made up of two clear sounds, which make a 'lub dub' noise. This is, simply, the sound made by two sets of valves within the organ opening then closing quickly after one another, as your blood is pumped around within your heart. When murmurs happen, the sound may not be the same, or carry extra noise. When the blood doesn't flow in and out of the valves smoothly, doctors will hear sounds caused by turbulence.
This could be, but is not always, due to valve disease. The valves can be affected by several things, including infection, simple aging and certain diseases. It's vital to keep in mind that on its own, this is NOT a disease. It can however be caused by one.
Functional or innocent murmurs don't need medical treatment and are usually completely harmless, without symptoms. There's no need for changes to diet or physical activity levels. Though, naturally good food and lots of exercise puts you in better shape to prevent disease of any kind to this organ. So is avoiding stress, so try not to panic if your doctor detects something.
The treatment if this suddenly occurs, when you've been having regular listening in to your heart, is dependent on any underlying causes. Relatively straightforward conditions that can be resolved easily and do create the condition include Anemia, high fevers, hyperthyroidism and yes - pregnancy. Though the latter can only be resolved in nine months.
Diseases of this organ which will require treatment quickly and possibly surgery include Endocarditis, a hole in the heart, Valve Stenosis, Sclerosis or regurgitation. These last three are all abnormalities of the organ valve. You'll usually be unaware of such a problem yourself, but keep an eye on your general health and always seek advice for chest pain and shortness of breath. These won't be caused by a murmur at all, but could be serious symptoms of other diseases.
Infections that can harm the valves can be as simple as Strep Throat, or as rare as the now almost eradicated rheumatic fever. An easy course of strong antibiotics is the usual prescription. Children who are born with major heart irregularities or with holes in the organ tend to have surgery when they're still babies. The underlined message, from all doctors, is that a heart murmur is in very many cases innocent, benign, not requiring treatment and not something to be worried over.
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Get more information about the importance of knowing the signs and symptoms of a heart murmur by visiting our www.heartmurmurinfo.com. You can find details about enlarged hearts and the steps you can take to keep your heart healthy today!
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