Heart Murmur Overview
US News-Healthline describes heart murmurs are rasping, whooshing or blowing sounds produced by the heart as blood flows through defective valves. The heart has two upper chambers and two lower chambers, with valves located between them and the major blood vessels. These valves control blood flow, making sure it flows only in one direction. When these valves do not open or close properly, they cause blood to leak backwards, thus producing noise. Based on a ranking from the American Heart Association, heart murmurs are rated on a 1-6 scale, based on their volume and strength. The lower their rating, the less severe they are and the less they require treatment.
Heart murmurs are detected by a stethoscope. According to the American Heart Association, they can be caused by various valve diseases, as well as pregnancy, fever, thyrotoxicosis (a condition resulting from an overactive thyroid gland) and anemia. They often occur in children as part of development, and do not require treatment. Most heart murmurs are harmless, but some may need follow-up tests to be sure they are not caused by an underlying serious heart condition. Based on research from Mayoclinic. com, symptoms that indicate a more serious heart problem include skin that appears blue, especially on your fingertips and lips, swelling, shortness of breath, enlarged liver, enlarged neck veins, poor appetite and failure to grow normally (in infants),weight gain (in adults and children),heavy sweating with minimal or no exertion, chest pain, dizziness and fainting. Treatment is directed at the underlying cause.
For more information, visit NorthShore University Health System’s cardiology department.
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