What is a Heart Murmur: Causes, Types, and Prevention
Posted on 27th October 2023 at 14:54
When we think of heart health, we often focus on conditions like high blood pressure or heart disease. However, there is another common condition that affects the heart and deserves our attention: heart murmurs. In this blog post, we will delve into the causes, types, and prevention methods for heart murmurs, shedding light on an often-misunderstood condition.
The Causes of Heart Murmurs:
Before we dive into the causes, it's important to understand what a heart murmur is. A heart murmur is an abnormal sound heard during a heartbeat. It is caused by turbulent blood flow through the chambers or valves of the heart. While some heart murmurs are harmless, others can be indicative of an underlying heart condition.
There are several factors that can lead to the development of heart murmurs. These include:
Valve problems: Heart valve abnormalities, such as aortic stenosis or mitral regurgitation, can cause turbulent blood flow and result in a murmur.
Congenital heart defects: Some individuals are born with structural abnormalities in the heart, leading to a heart murmur.
Infections: Certain infections, such as endocarditis, can damage the heart valves and cause abnormal blood flow.
Anaemia: A low red blood cell count can lead to a heart murmur due to increased blood flow.
Types of Heart Murmurs:
Heart murmurs are categorized based on their timing during the cardiac cycle and their location. The timing of a murmur can be systolic, diastolic, or continuous.
Systolic murmurs: These murmurs occur between the first and second heart sounds and are often associated with issues like valve abnormalities or increased blood flow.
Diastolic murmurs: These murmurs occur between the second and first heart sounds and are typically indicative of valve problems.
Continuous murmurs: These murmurs persist throughout the cardiac cycle and usually suggest structural abnormalities in the heart.
Location:
Regarding location, healthcare professionals classify heart murmurs based on where they are heard most prominently. For example, aortic murmurs are heard best over the aortic valve, while mitral murmurs are heard best over the mitral valve.
Preventing Heart Murmurs:
Prevention is always better than cure. While some heart murmurs are unavoidable, there are steps we can take to minimize our risk:
Regular check-ups: Schedule routine visits with your doctor to detect any abnormalities early on and monitor your heart health.
Practice good oral hygiene: Oral infections, such as gum disease, can lead to inflammation and increase the risk of endocarditis. Brush and floss your teeth regularly to maintain oral health.
Take antibiotics when necessary: If you have a heart condition that makes you prone to infections, follow your healthcare provider's guidelines regarding antibiotic prophylaxis before dental procedures or other invasive procedures.
Live a heart-healthy lifestyle: Maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly, avoid smoking, and manage other risk factors like high cholesterol or high blood pressure. These lifestyle changes can reduce the likelihood of developing heart murmurs.
Understanding heart murmurs is crucial for maintaining heart health. If you suspect you or a loved one has a heart murmur, consult a healthcare professional for evaluation and guidance. By staying informed and taking proactive steps, we can improve our heart health and minimize the impact of heart murmurs on our overall wellbeing.
To learn more about heart murmurs and the causes, symptoms, and treatments of heart murmurs, please look at the information provided by the British Heart Foundation. The British Heart Foundation is a cardiovascular research charity in the United Kingdom, it raises money to help fund research into heart and circulatory disease, they also raise awareness, advocate change in public policy and support people suffering with a cardiovascular illness.
If you enjoyed this blog, you might enjoy one of our other heart related blog posts titled 'The Top 5 Food for a Healthy Heart'
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