Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 2: Recognizing abnormal heart murmurs
• Part 2 of 2: Treating abnormal heart murmurs

Heart murmurs are abnormal sounds that occur when blood passes through your heart. Some heart murmurs, called functional murmurs, do not indicate a disease that needs treatment. However, if you have an abnormal heart murmur, you may need an examination and medical attention.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Recognizing abnormal heart murmurs

1. 1 Establish symptoms. If you have a functional heart murmur, chances are good that you will have no other symptoms other than the sounds heard by your doctor. However, an abnormal heart murmur may indicate a serious medical condition. If you have any of the following symptoms, see your doctor immediately:
   • Bluish skin tone.Most often occurs on the tips of the fingers and on the lips.
   • Edema
   • Weight gain
   • Dyspnea
   • Cough
   • Enlarged liver
   • Enlarged veins in the neck
   • Loss of appetite
   • Profuse sweating
   • Chest pain
   • Dizziness
   • Fainting
2. 2 If you have a heart attack, call the emergency number immediately. If you're having a heart attack, every minute counts. Some of the symptoms of an abnormal heart murmur are similar to those of a heart attack. If you are not sure what the symptoms mean, play it safe and call an ambulance. Symptoms of a heart attack include:
   • Feeling of pain or pressure in the chest
   • Feeling of pain and tightness radiating to the neck, jaw, or back
   • Nausea
   • Unpleasant sensations in the stomach
   • Heartburn or indigestion
   • Dyspnea
   • Cold sweat
   • Fatigue
   • Dizziness or lightheadedness
3. 3 Ask your doctor about the causes of functional heart murmurs. Functional heart murmurs may subside over time. They can also last a lifetime, but they do not cause any problems. Some reasons for temporary functional noise include the following:
   • Exercise
   • Increased blood volume during pregnancy.
   • Fever, anemia, or hyperthyroidism. In this case, treating the underlying problem will help get rid of the heart murmur.
4. 4 Talk with your doctor about the causes of abnormal heart murmurs. Some causes may be present from birth and hidden, while others may arise already in adulthood. Common causes of heart murmurs include:
   • Hole in the heart or abnormal blood flow between the chambers of the heart. The severity of these defects depends on the location of the opening and the volume of blood flow.
   • Heart valve problems. If the valves do not allow enough blood to flow or are leaking, it can lead to a heart murmur.
   • Calcification of the heart valves. As we age, the valves can harden or narrow, which can cause a heart murmur.
   • Infection. Infection of the walls of the heart chambers or valves can also cause heart murmurs.
   • Acute rheumatic fever. This is a complication of a neglected or incompletely cured sore throat, due to which the heart valves are damaged.
5. 5 Let your doctor listen to your heart. Your doctor will listen to your heart with a stethoscope and assess the following aspects of these murmurs:
   • Sound. The doctor will determine if the sounds were loud or quiet, and whether they were low or high pitched.
   • Location of heart murmurs.
   • The timing of the onset of the noises relative to the heartbeat. If a murmur occurs when blood enters your heart or throughout your heartbeat, this indicates a serious problem.
   • Do you have a genetic predisposition to heart disease?
6. 6 Take additional tests. Take some tests to help your doctor better understand your problem. These diagnostic tests include the following procedures:
   • Chest X-ray. An x-ray takes a picture of your heart and nearby organs. The snapshot will show if your heart is enlarged or not.
   • Electrocardiogram (ECG). During this test, your doctor will place electrodes on different parts of your body to measure the activity of your heart. This can measure the heartbeat and rhythm of your heart, as well as the strength of the electrical signals that control your heartbeat.
   • Echocardiogram. This test uses sound waves above a person's auditory range to create an image of the heart. It will help the doctor see the size and shape of the heart and determine if the valves have structural problems. An echocardiogram can detect areas of the heart that are not contracting well or that are not getting enough blood flow. During this test, you lie down on a table and your doctor applies an ultrasound probe to your skin. The test lasts approximately 45 minutes and does not cause pain.
   • Stress echocardiography.This test measures your cardiogram before and after exercise. This test can measure how your heart works during times of stress.
   • Heart probing. During this test, the doctor uses a small probe to measure the pressure in the chambers of the heart. The probe is inserted through a vein or artery and travels directly to the heart.

Part 2 of 2: Treating abnormal heart murmurs

1. 1 Take your medicine as prescribed by your doctor. The choice of medication you will be prescribed depends on your particular case and your medical history. The most commonly prescribed drugs are:
   • Anticoagulants. These drugs prevent blood clots from forming. They reduce the chances of a blood clot forming in the heart or brain, which could lead to a heart attack or stroke. The most common drugs are aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin, Yantoven), and clopidogrel (Plavix).
   • Diuretics. These drugs lower high blood pressure, which in turn can reduce heart murmurs. They prevent water retention in the body.
   • Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. These drugs lower blood pressure, thereby improving the heart murmur.
   • Statins. These drugs lower cholesterol levels. High cholesterol can negatively affect valve function.
   • Beta blockers. Beta blockers make your heart beat slower and lower your blood pressure. It can reduce heart murmurs.
2. 2 Correct the problem with the damaged or leaking valve. Medication can reduce the physical stress placed on your valves, but if they need repair, then surgery will be required. There are several ways your doctor can do this:
   • Valvuloplasty. During this procedure, the doctor uses a balloon at the end of the catheter to expand the heart valve. When the balloon is in the right place, it is inflated. Increasing the balloon causes the valve to open wider.
   • Mitral valve annuloplasty. The surgeon strengthens the area around the valve with a ring. This procedure is used to repair the mitral valve.
   • Surgery on the valve itself or on the supporting tissues. This will help repair valves that are not closing properly.
3. 3 Replacing a faulty valve. If the existing valve cannot be repaired, your doctor may advise you to replace it with an artificial one. This can be achieved in several ways:
   • Open heart surgery. Depending on your situation, your doctor may recommend installing a mechanical or biological valve. Mechanical valves are more durable but increase the risk of blood clots forming. If you opt for a mechanical valve, then you will need lifelong anticoagulant therapy to reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. Biological valves are made from valves from pigs, cows, human donors, or your own tissue. The downside to biological valves is that they may need to be replaced.
   • Transcatheter aortic valve replacement. This procedure is not performed on an open heart. Instead, a new valve is inserted using a catheter. A catheter is inserted into a vessel on your body (such as your leg) and the valve is lifted up to your heart.