A murmur is a noise heard during the heartbeat, reminiscent of a whisper or a whistle. Normally, murmurs are not heard except with the aid of a stethoscope. They may appear at birth or develop throughout life.
Having a murmur does not necessarily mean having a disease; most murmurs occur in normal hearts, although some can be caused by heart disease such as congenital heart disease. This pathology affects the patient’s growth and limits his or her capacity for exertion.
Causes of heart murmur
Blood turbulences that produce murmurs can be common, depending on the shape of the heart, the patient’s age, and other circumstances. When the blood circulates faster, such as when exercising or if there is anemia, it is normal to hear them. As mentioned above, turbulence is sometimes caused by heart disease. Most frequently, it is due to an alteration of one of the four valves in the heart: if one of them opens less than normal or does not close properly, a murmur may occur.
When a murmur is heard, the nature of the murmur and its characteristics indicate whether or not it may be due to a disease. An ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram) is the technique used to find out the causes of a murmur.
Other causes of a murmur:
- A dysfunctional heart valve.
- Abnormal communication between two chambers (congenital heart disease).
- Arteriosclerosis
- Hypertension, pregnancy, anemia, fever or an overactive thyroid gland.
- Endocarditis, hardening of the valves.
Risk factors may include a family history of a heart defect, illness during the mother’s pregnancy, or taking certain medications or illegal drugs.
How to treat a heart murmur
Heart murmurs do not need treatment, but the heart disease that causes it does. It can range from surgical intervention to medication.
As they are not a disease in themselves, they cannot be prevented.
For more information consult a cardiologist.