Do you hear a strange sound in your heart? Let's talk about this Heart Murmur! (Heart Murmur)

Imagine you went to the doctor for a routine checkup. The doctor puts a stethoscope on your chest, listens carefully for a while, and says, "Hmm... I hear a small heart murmur." Your heart suddenly skips a beat, doesn't it? "A murmur? What is it? Is it a serious illness?" It's normal for many questions to come to mind. Although many people are afraid of this word, not all heart murmurs are dangerous. So, without further ado, let's talk in detail, very simply, about what this 'Heart Murmur' is, why it occurs, and what we need to know about it.

What exactly is a 'Heart Murmur'?

To understand this, let's first take a look at how our heart works. The heart is an amazing machine that pumps blood throughout our bodies. Inside this heart, there are four chambers and four 'valves' that act like doors between them. Each time the heart beats, these valves open and close in a sequence. In this way, blood flows in only one direction.

When a doctor listens with a stethoscope, a healthy heart will make two distinct "lub-dub" sounds. This is the sound of the valve closing that I mentioned.

However, sometimes, in addition to this "lub-dub" sound, a "whooshing" or "swishing" sound is heard. It's like when you throw a stone into a slow-moving stream, the water gets a little agitated and makes a sound. That extra sound is what we call a "Heart Murmur" in medicine.

Don't panic just because you hear this sound. There are two types of murmurs. One is an "innocent murmur" that is harmless and not caused by a disease. The other is an "abnormal murmur" that is caused by a problem in the heart.

Types of Murmur and their significance

When a doctor hears a murmur, they pay special attention to when in the cardiac cycle it occurs. This gives them a rough idea of ​​its severity.

In addition to this classification, the doctor also considers the loudness of the murmur. It is graded from level 1 to 6. Level 1 is a sound that can only be heard with a stethoscope with great difficulty and only if you pay close attention. Level 6 is a sound that is loud enough to be heard even if the stethoscope is not pressed against the chest, but is placed slightly above the skin.

What can cause a Heart Murmur?

There are many different reasons why a murmur can occur. Let's break them down into two categories.

1. Innocent Murmurs

These are not caused by any heart disease. What happens here is that even though the heart is healthy, an extra sound is heard due to the increased speed of blood flowing through it. These conditions are common:

• In early childhood: Many young children make these innocent murmurs. These will disappear on their own as they grow older.
• During pregnancy: During pregnancy, the mother's blood volume increases, causing the heart to work harder. This can cause the blood flow to increase and a murmur to be heard. This usually goes away after the baby is born.
• When exercising: When we exercise, our heart rate increases, so we may hear a murmur.
• Conditions such as fever or anemia: During these times, a murmur may be heard temporarily because the heart is working faster.

2. Causes to watch out for (Abnormal Murmurs)

These types of murmurs occur as a result of a heart condition or other medical condition. Let's understand it clearly from the table below.

How is a murmur diagnosed? What tests are done?

The main way to identify a murmur is for your doctor to listen to your heart with a stethoscope. At that time, he or she will carefully examine things like the sound of the murmur, where it is heard, and when.

To better understand the nature of the murmur, your doctor may ask you to do various things.

• It tells you to sit, stand, or lean forward.
• He tells me to hold my breath for a while.
• He tells them to clench their fists and tighten them.

The way the sound of the murmur changes when you do these things can give you some clues as to the cause.

If the doctor has any doubts about the murmur or thinks it is unusual, he or she will recommend further tests to determine the exact cause.

• Electrocardiogram (ECG): This test checks the electrical activity of the heart and helps to detect any problems with the heart's rhythm.
• Chest X-ray: This can be used to check for things like an enlarged heart and fluid buildup in the lungs.
• Echocardiogram (Echo): This is the most important and accurate test to find the cause of a murmur. This scan uses sound waves to take live images of the heart, allowing you to see everything from how the heart valves are working, to the thickness of the heart muscle, to how well the heart is pumping.

Does a Murmur require treatment?

The answer to this question depends on the cause of the murmur.

However, if the murmur is caused by heart valve disease or another serious condition, treatment is definitely needed.

• Medications: Medications are prescribed depending on the cause. For example, to control high blood pressure, control heart rate, prevent blood clots, or in the case of an infection like endocarditis, antibiotics are given.
• Surgery:If a heart valve is severely damaged, surgery may be needed to repair it (valve repair) or replace it with a new valve (valve replacement). Surgery is also performed to correct congenital heart defects.

The most important thing is that the doctor who examines you will determine the most suitable treatment for you. Therefore, it is essential to follow his instructions exactly.

When to seek immediate medical advice

Whether you know you have a heart murmur or not, don't ignore any of the following symptoms.

• Sudden severe chest pain
• Severe difficulty breathing
• Fainting/Syncope
• Blue discoloration of the lips or skin (Cyanosis)
• Palpitations (feeling like your heart is beating fast or irregularly)