Hearing a murmur in your heart is not a problem that is linked to the heart, but lets you know what is happening with this muscle and how it affects your body. A heart murmur is typically heard under a stethoscope and can be a clear indication of how your heart is functioning and whether everything is working at a normal level or whether it is consistent with other problems in your body.
Types of Heart Murmurs
There are two main types of murmurs, innocent or harmless and abnormal murmurs. The innocent or harmless murmurs are usually heard in children and occur as a skipped beat or a heart beat that does not keep the same rhythm. Even though the heart is not keeping the same consistency, it does not indicate there is a problem with the heart. Abnormal murmurs, on the other hand, are from heart defects in this muscle, specifically linked to problems that occur at birth. Typically, these are linked to diseases, illnesses or other changes in the body that causes an inconsistent heart beat.
How a Heart Murmur Occurs
With these two specific types of heart murmurs, are several ways in which a heart murmur occurs. For instance, if there is an increase of blood flow around the heart, which is moving at a faster then usual pace, it may cause a murmur. For those with abnormal heart defects, are additional problems with the valves and septum around the heart separating and not allowing enough blood to flow through to and from the heart.
While most heart murmurs don't provide complications or alterations, too many may cause other health complications to arise. This occurs if the heart murmur continues and the blood that is supposed to be flowing through the body is altered because of the murmurs. If you have a heart murmur and conditions such as blue colouring, chest pain, dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath or excessive sweating occur, then it may be time to check into the heart murmur to try to get your heart moving at a normal pace again.
If you receive a test for a heart murmur, you will receive one of three classifications. The first is a systolic murmur, which means that the heart is squeezing and pumping more blood to and from the heart then normal. The second is the diastolic, which is heard when the heart receives too much blood at once. A continuous murmur occurs with alterations in the rhythm of the heart. The last two types of murmurs are usually linked to other heart diseases and difficulties, and need to move through an examination.
Treatments for Heart Murmurs
Even though heart murmurs may lead to complications, the normal and innocent heart murmurs do not need any assistance. Typically, the heart balances back to a normal pace and allows the heart to continue pumping blood in the correct manner. If there are complications with the rhythm that become threatening, then a surgery to change the defect, or a medication that helps the heart to stop the murmurs may be used.
The concept of heart murmurs is one that is recognized by several physicians, not as a main disease, but instead as an indicator to how the rest of the body is working in conjunction with the heart. The links to this include not only signs of heart murmurs, but also the relationship that allows the blood to flow in a specific manner to and from the heart. |
