Does having a heart murmur mean you need heart surgery? According to Tiberio Frisoli, M.D., a cardiologist at Henry Ford Health, that’s not necessarily true.
What Is A Heart Murmur?
A heart murmur is a sound that the heart makes when blood increases in velocity as it travels through narrow parts of the heart.
“Think of it like a water hose outside,” says Dr. Frisoli. “If you put your finger over the opening of the hose when the water is coming out, the water sprays at a faster velocity. It is the same amount of water, just being forced out a smaller opening.”
There are two different types of heart murmurs:
- Pathologic: Abnormal murmurs that are caused by a problem with the heart or heart disease.
- Physiologic: Innocent murmurs that sometimes occur as blood is flowing through working valves of the heart.
Heart murmurs can impact people of all ages. Some children are born with innocent heart murmurs. As they get older, many of them grow out of these murmurs. In other cases, heart murmurs are acquired over time.
“When a newly acquired heart murmurs is first heard, your doctor will want to conduct an ultrasound of the heart, called an echocardiogram to identify if there is some sort of valve problem,” says Dr. Frisoli. “If a valve problem is identified, medical intervention may be necessary.”
How Are Heart Murmurs Diagnosed?
There are a few different ways through which a heart murmur might be diagnosed:
- Your primary care provider. There’s a reason your doctor listens to your heart at regular wellness visits. Primary care doctors can often be the first to hear a murmur and direct you to further testing or a cardiologist to determine the murmur’s cause.
- A cardiologist. Cardiologists are specialty trained to listen for heart murmurs. Different types of heart murmurs make different sounds and the location of where you can hear that sound the loudest can help identify the murmur. Your doctor will listen for noise around the apex of the heart and throughout the chest to determine what area of the heart is causing the murmur.
- An echocardiogram. Performing an ultrasound on the heart is the best way doctors can evaluate the type of murmur you have and determine what steps need to be taken if there is cause for concern.
“From a medical standpoint, heart murmurs are really a god-sent,” says Dr. Frisoli. “They give clinicians an opportunity to make a medical diagnosis with just a stethoscope. A cardiologist with a trained ear can make early diagnoses of valve problems, allowing treatment or surgical intervention to take place sooner rather than later.”
What Happens When A Heart Murmur Is Serious?
In some cases, heart murmurs are an early sign of serious complications with the heart. Surgery is often necessary if it is determined that your heart murmur is related to conditions such as heart disease or a heart valve disease. Taking action early can prevent a heart complication from having serious impact on your life and allow you to make lifestyle modifications to improve your health overall.
Your doctor will work with you to determine the best course of action for treatment. If you notice sudden changes in your health after being diagnosed with a heart murmur, be sure to seek medical attention right away as this could be the result of a complication related to the heart murmurs. Changes could include:
- New chest pains or chests pains that are worse than before
- Fainting or lightheadedness
- Chest palpitations (feeling that your heart is skipping a beat)
- Difficulty breathing of catching your breath
- Bluish skin
For more information about heart murmurs or to be referred to a cardiologist, schedule an appointment with to your primary care provider. To find a doctor or request an appointment, visit henryford.com or call 1-800-436-7936.
Dr. Tiberio Frisoli is an interventional cardiologist who sees patients at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Henry Ford Allegiance in Jackson and Henry Ford Health Center – Brownstown.
