Heart Murmur – Causes
The sound of the heartbeat is produced by the heart valves as they open and close to allow the blood to flow into the heart. The normal Lub Dub sound of the beating heart is sometimes interspersed by some abnormal whistling sounds. This abnormal or extra sound produced while the heart is beating is known as heart murmur.Heart murmurs always do not indicate that something is wrong with the heart. Often heart murmurs are harmless. Nonetheless, you should not ignore heart murmurs. Abnormal heart murmur might be the sign of a serious heart disorder.
Innocent heart murmur
Sometimes people with normal and healthy hearts have heart murmur throughout their life. This is known as innocent heart murmur. People with innocent heart murmurs do not experience any discomfort or heart problem. It is only while going for a health check up that their doctors would hear the murmur.
Heart murmur is more common among children. Pediatricians would hear the murmur sound at any point in a child’s life. This is a normal condition, which does not indicate any abnormality in the heart or congenital heart disease. Innocent heart murmur usually occurs during illnesses when the heart pumps faster to increase blood flow. Murmur sounds are especially heard when a person is suffering from fever, anemia, hypertension or hyperthyroidism. Excess blood flow during pregnancy causes heart murmur in pregnant women.
Abnormal heart murmur
Abnormal heart murmur indicates a heart problem. Abnormal heart murmur in babies might be an indication of congenial heart defect. The beating heart of a baby born with abnormal heart valves or holes in the walls of the heart produces abnormal heart murmurs. Problems in the heart valves such as mitral valve prolapse, mitral valve or aortic stenosis and mitral or aortic regurgitation are common causes of heart murmurs.
The heart valves of elderly people suffering from atherosclerosis often become stiff or thick. This condition known as aortic sclerosis is one of the major causes of heart murmur in the elderly. Untreated strep throat could lead to rheumatic fever, which tends to damage the heart valves, producing abnormal heart murmur. Abnormal heart murmurs are corrected with the help of medications or surgeries.
