Heart murmur treatment

Heart murmurs may be detected both accidentally during a preventive examination and against the background of complaints — shortness of breath, weakness, irregular heartbeats, chest pain, or dizziness. It is important to understand that a murmur is not a separate disease. This is a sign that may be either a physiological feature or a manifestation of disorders in the functioning of the valves, heart muscle, or blood vessels.

At the Oxford Medical clinic, patients can undergo a consultation with a cardiologist, ECG, ultrasound, and other examinations that help assess heart function and understand whether treatment is needed or observation is sufficient.

A heart murmur — is an additional sound that a doctor can hear during auscultation with a stethoscope. Normally, the heart creates rhythmic sounds associated with the work of the valves and the movement of blood. If blood moves unevenly, an additional murmur may appear between the main sounds.

Not all heart murmurs are associated with a disease. Sometimes they occur during physical exertion, elevated temperature, anemia, pregnancy, or other conditions that affect the speed of blood flow. Such murmurs are called functional, and they do not always require treatment. Pathological ones may be associated with valve defects, congenital defects, inflammatory processes, or other cardiovascular diseases.

Heart murmurs may have different origins and clinical significance. Some occur temporarily and are not associated with structural changes, while others may be a sign of valvular disorders or other cardiovascular diseases.

By origin, they are divided into:

• functional — occur without structural changes and may appear during physical exertion, anemia, fever, pregnancy, or other conditions that affect blood flow;
• pathological — associated with valve defects, congenital defects, inflammatory processes, or other cardiovascular diseases.

The doctor also assesses at which moment of the cycle the murmur is heard:

• systolic — appears during contraction of the heart;
• diastolic — occurs during relaxation.

After auscultation, the doctor assesses whether this may be a variant of the norm, or whether a disorder of the valves or other structures is likely. If necessary, additional diagnostics are prescribed to clarify the cause.

Heart murmurs may occur both due to temporary changes in blood flow and against the background of diseases. In some cases, they are not associated with structural disorders and disappear after the cause is eliminated, but sometimes they may be a sign of cardiological problems.

Possible causes include:

• physical exertion, elevated temperature, anemia, pregnancy, increased activity of the thyroid gland;
• congenital defects, in particular defects of the atrial or ventricular septum;
• valve diseases: stenosis, insufficiency, or valve prolapse;
• previous infectious or inflammatory diseases that may affect the valvular apparatus;
• cardiomyopathies and other changes in the structure of the heart muscle;
• age-related changes of the valves, calcinosis, or consequences of prolonged elevation of arterial blood pressure.

According to Mayo Clinic, functional murmurs may not be associated with heart disease, whereas pathological ones sometimes indicate valvular disorders or other cardiological conditions that require additional diagnostics and observation.

Doctors of «Oxford Medical» warn: heart murmurs in adults that appeared for the first time or are accompanied by shortness of breath, swelling, chest pain, fainting, or reduced tolerance of physical exertion require special attention. In such cases, it is important to undergo a cardiological examination to assess the work of the valves and exclude heart disease.

Not all heart murmurs are dangerous. Functional ones are often not associated with structural changes and may not affect well-being or the functioning of the cardiovascular system. At the same time, a pathological murmur is sometimes a sign of diseases that require observation or treatment.

A murmur may occur with valvular defects, congenital defects, cardiomyopathies, or other diseases. Without monitoring, some of these disorders may gradually affect blood circulation and heart function. In some patients, this may lead to shortness of breath, reduced tolerance of physical exertion, rhythm disturbances, or the development of heart failure.

Diagnosis begins with a consultation with a cardiologist. The doctor clarifies complaints, previous diseases, level of physical exertion, the presence of shortness of breath, chest pain, fainting, swelling, or arrhythmia.

To clarify the cause, the following may be prescribed:

• ECG to assess rhythm;
• echocardiography (ultrasound) to assess the valves, heart chambers, contractile function, and blood flow characteristics;
• Holter monitoring, if interruptions in heart function occur periodically or there is a suspicion of a rhythm disorder;
• blood tests to detect anemia, inflammation, disorders of thyroid gland function, or other concomitant conditions.

The main diagnostic method is ultrasound. The examination helps assess the condition of the valves, the size of the heart chambers, the direction of blood flow, and detect possible structural changes. It is echocardiography that makes it possible to understand whether the murmur is associated with functional features or is a sign of a disease.

If the murmur is accompanied by an irregular heartbeat, the doctor also assesses whether there is a rhythm disorder. Sometimes concomitant arrhythmia may intensify shortness of breath, weakness, or the feeling of interruptions in heart function. In such cases, in addition to ultrasound, 24-hour Holter monitoring may be needed.

A heart murmur is not treated separately, because it is not an independent disease, but a sign that may have different causes. If after the examination it is confirmed that the murmur is functional and not associated with structural changes, special treatment may not be needed. In this case, a cardiologist may recommend monitoring well-being and periodic examinations.

If the murmur is associated with a certain condition or disease, treatment is directed at its cause. Depending on the examination results, the doctor may recommend:

• correction of anemia, thyroid gland dysfunction, or other conditions that may affect blood flow;
• medication treatment of arterial hypertension, heart failure, rhythm disorders, or other concomitant diseases;
• regular observation if the valvular changes are insignificant and are not accompanied by pronounced symptoms;
• consultation with a cardiac surgeon if significant valve damage or another structural problem that requires specialized treatment has been detected.

Doctors of «Oxford Medical» recommend not taking medications independently only because a murmur was detected during the examination. The tactics depend on the cause of the murmur, ultrasound results, symptoms, and the patient’s general condition. In some cases, observation is sufficient, in others — treatment of the underlying disease is required.

If the murmur is associated with valvular disorders or other structural changes, without observation and treatment the disorders may gradually progress.

Possible consequences:

• heart rhythm disturbance;
• deterioration of valve function;
• reduced tolerance of physical exertion and worsening of well-being;
• development of heart failure;
• the need for more complex treatment in case of late seeking of medical care.

That is why after detecting a murmur, it is important not to postpone the examination, even if the symptoms are minimal or occur only periodically. Timely diagnostics helps monitor the condition of the cardiovascular system and determine the necessary treatment or observation tactics in time.

Prevention is aimed primarily at the timely detection and control of diseases that may affect the work of the valves, heart muscle, or blood circulation. Not all causes of murmurs can be prevented, especially if they are associated with congenital features of the organ’s structure. At the same time, control of risk factors helps reduce the likelihood of developing cardiovascular complications.

For prevention, it is recommended to:

• control arterial blood pressure and treat hypertension in a timely manner;
• consult a cardiologist in case of shortness of breath, chest pain, fainting, swelling;
• treat anemia, thyroid gland diseases, and other conditions;
• not ignore prolonged fever, weakness, or symptoms after infectious diseases;
• maintain moderate physical activity;
• not take cardiological medications without a specialist’s prescription.

Doctors of «Oxford Medical» recommend undergoing preventive examinations if a murmur has already been detected before or if there have been cases of valvular defects, cardiomyopathies, or other cardiovascular diseases in the family. This helps control changes in a timely manner and determine the need for further observation.

You can preliminarily familiarize yourself with prices for medical services here. At the «Oxford Medical» clinic, patients can undergo a consultation with a cardiologist and an examination to clarify the cause of the murmur. If necessary, the doctor prescribes ECG, ultrasound, Holter monitoring, laboratory tests, and other diagnostic methods that help assess the condition of the valves, heart rhythm, and the functioning of the cardiovascular system. To make an appointment, contact the contact center by the phone number indicated on the website, or use the online appointment form.

The information is for informational purposes and does not replace a doctor’s consultation.

Sources:

• American Heart Association
• Mayo Clinic
• NCBI Bookshelf, National Library of Medicine