Here are the symptoms and things you need to know about heart murmur
HEART MURMUR – This condition is not just a fluttering in your chest because the whooshing and swishing sound can only be detected through a stethoscope.
According to the article from The Healthy, this is caused by turbulent or abnormal blood flow in or around your heart. Brent Lampert, DO, a cardiologist at The Ohio University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus explained that “it can be caused by heart valve problems—either narrowing or leaking of the valves—holes in the heart, or other congenital heart defects.”
On the other hand, he said that most murmurs are innocent or harmless. Any heartbeat irregularities can be detected by the doctor at your regular physical exam and evaluate further with an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the hear). Dr. Lampert said that “it’s important to know that many patients will not experience symptoms, or the valve disease progresses slowly enough that the heart compensates and symptoms are hardly noticed.”
SYMPTOMS
Shortness of breath or chest pain
Valve stenosis, which is described as the narrowing and tightening of the valve, limits forward blood flow. This could result in feeling winded or having difficulty breathing when you would normally be breathing easily. This could be a symptom of heart murmur. “Valves within the heart are doors designed to keep blood flowing in one direction. Sometimes these doors might not close properly or open completely,” Patrick Collier, MD, PhD, a cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic explained.
Anemia
Anemia or Iron deficiency is having no enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to all the body tissues and this can be more of a cause rather than a symptom. According to information from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, murmurs related to anemia are considered innocent. This requires no further attention when detected in a healthy heart. However, if you know that you are anemic and experiencing other symptoms, it is advisable to consult your doctor.
Bloating
Bloating can be a symptom of various health conditions but puffing up all over is a warning sign. Dr. Lampert said that in some cases people may experience swelling of the feet, ankles or abdomen. Dysfunctional heart valves can result in poor blood circulation and this can sometimes cause excess fluid to build up. Aside from this, clogged arteries can be a result of low blood flow.
Thyroid problem
The murmur can be traced to a dysfunctional thyroid gland, occasionally. “An overactive thyroid may cause turbulent blood flow in the heart,” Dr. Collier explained.
Dizziness or lightheadedness
“Some people with severe valve issues have blackout episodes or fainting,” Dr. Collier stated. You should be aware that feeling dizzy without any obvious reason can be a red flag.
Poor appetite
There are several reasons why a child has poor appetite, including a growth hormone deficiency, but the problem could also be a heart murmur. It is vital that a doctor should evaluate a child for any potential congenital heart disease or heart defect.
When a woman is pregnant, innocent murmur might develop due to the increased volume of blood pumping through your body, according to Joy M. Gelbman, MD, a cardiologist at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian in New York City. If the doctor does not detect any other underlying cause, the murmur will eventually disappear after pregnancy.
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