A heart murmur is a swishing or whooshing sound that occurs when blood flows through a heart valve, often because of an issue with a valve. While it sounds scary, it doesn’t have to be. Here are 10 terms to help you understand heart murmurs.
- Congenital Heart Defect: Congenital heart defects are those presented at birth. These are the more common cause of heart murmurs in infants and young children. Acquired heart valve disease is more often a cause of heart murmurs in adults or older children.
- Innocent Heart Murmurs: Not every heart murmur causes a problem. These are called innocent heart murmurs, and they have no underlying issue. They may be present in young children or occur later on as a result of increased blood flow due to pregnancy, activity levels, anxiety, thyroid issues, anemia, or other issues. Innocent heart murmurs generally require no treatment, and may even go away in time.
- Pathologic Heart Murmur: Pathologic, or abnormal, heart murmurs are those that appear in tandem with heart problems. They may cause symptoms ranging from coughing and dizziness to blue skin and a swollen liver. Pathologic heart murmurs may require medication or surgical intervention for treatment.
- Systolic Murmur: Heart murmurs are classified based on a variety of aspects. A systolic murmur occurs when the heart muscles contract. Other aspects your cardiologist must consider include how loud the murmur is, where it comes from, the pitch of the sound, and if movement or activity affect it.
- Diastolic Murmur: In contrast to systolic murmurs, diastolic murmurs occur when the heart is relaxing. Other murmurs occur constantly, with no regard for the timing of the heart beat. These are called continuous murmurs.
- Cardiac Catheterization: Imaging tests are extremely important for diagnosing murmurs and heart problems. Cardiac catheterization involves sending a catheter through a blood vessel until it reaches the heart. This allows your healthcare team to measure the chambers of your heart or inject a dye that will show up particular types of imaging tests.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG): Another diagnostic test for heart murmurs is an electrocardiogram, or ECG. Using probes attached to your chest, an ECG measures the electrical outputs of your heart. This can help pinpoint structural issues and unusual rhythms.
- Valvuloplasty: A valvuloplasty is a surgical treatment for narrowed valves causing your heart murmur. A balloon is sent into the valve through a catheter. Once it reaches the valve in question, the balloon is inflated and widens the valve to allow improved blood flow.
- Annuloplasty: If a mitral valve leak is behind your heart murmur, an annuloplasty may be necessary. Your medical team will put an artificial ring in your heart to encourage the tissue of the valve to tighten. The leaflets of the valve will then begin to close up any openings that shouldn’t be there.
- Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR): TAVR is a less invasive alternative to open heart surgery for replacing valves. Using a catheter or smaller incision, your medical team will put an artificial valve in place. TAVR is a great alternative for people who may not respond well to open heart surgery.
