What is a Heart Murmur? What Should Be Done to Protect Heart Health?

When it comes to heart health, especially having heart murmurs can frighten individuals or cause them to experience confusion. A heart murmur is an additional sound between heartbeats. Murmur is not considered a disease. But an abnormal heart murmur, especially in adults, can be a sign of a problem with the heart valves. In this context, it is necessary to have regular doctor checks for heart health. 

A heart murmur may be confused with an irregular heartbeat or tachycardia, but the murmur is simply related to the additional sounds made as blood flows through the heart valves. When an extra sound is heard in the heartbeat, it is defined as a heart murmur.

What is a Heart Murmur? 

A heart murmur is an extra or unusual sound heard between heartbeats. The heartbeat makes “lub-dupp” or “lub-dub” sounds when the valves close and blood moves through the heart. A heart murmur  , on the other hand, is another type of sound and is usually a buzzing or rustling sound that ranges from very light to loud. 

Heat valves keep blood moving in the direction towards the heart. A heart murmur occurs when blood is flowing through a leaky or narrow heart valve or when there is an increase in blood flow through the heart valve. 

Most heart murmurs are considered harmless, but in some cases they can be described as abnormal. Murmurs can be a sign of a more serious heart condition, such as a congenital heart defect that occurs at birth or a heart valve disease that affects adults. {one*}

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What Are the Symptoms of a Heart Murmur? 

There are two types of heart murmurs, harmless and abnormal (harmful). A harmless or innocent  heart murmur usually does not cause any symptoms other than the unusual sound detected with a stethoscope. 

Abnormal heart murmurs are most commonly associated with symptoms of other heart problems. Signs of noxious heart murmurs are: {2*}

• Shortness of breath 
• heart palpitations 
• dizziness or fainting 
• chest pains 
• Blue-appearing skin (especially fingertips and lips) 
• sudden weight gain 
• chronic cough 
• excessive sweating 
• enlarged liver 
• enlarged neck veins 
• feeling of burnout 

These symptoms are considered the cause of a heart murmur as well as more serious problems. It is recommended that every individual experiencing any of these symptoms should see a doctor as soon as possible. 

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What Causes a Heart Murmur? 

A heart murmur occurs when there is turbulent movement of blood in the heart chambers and blood vessels, anatomical changes in the heart muscle and valves, or narrowing of the blood vessels. {3*} The presence of harmless or innocent  heart murmurs  does not automatically indicate the presence of a heart problem. In fact, these murmurs are very common in healthy infants, children and adolescents and are always easily detected by doctors. Approximately 50-70% of heart murmurs in children are clinically insignificant. 

However, children with congenital heart problems should have their heart murmurs checked. Such questions arise from some problems in the structure of the heart. These problems are:  {4*}

• Holes in the heart (known as septal defects) 
• Cardiac shunts (abnormal blood flow between heart chambers or blood vessels) 
• heart valve abnormalities 

A family history of heart problems or certain conditions, such as a rubella infection during pregnancy, increase the risk of children developing heart defects and a heart murmur. 

What is Irregular Heartbeat? What are the Causes and Treatments?

Innocent heart murmurs occur in adults as a result of blood flowing faster than normal from the heart. Some factors that can cause a harmless heart murmur in adults include: 

• To exercise 
• Fire 
• Pregnancy 
• Anemia 
• hyperthyroidism 

Harmless  heart murmurs may disappear on their own or may remain for life without causing any additional problems. When an abnormal heart murmur is detected in an adult, it is most often due to a heart valve disease that changes the shape and elasticity of the heart valves. Heart valve problems are caused by: {5*}

• Aging:  Age-related changes in the heart can affect the valves. This occurs as a result of calcium deposits forming in the valves that limit blood flow. 
• Valve calcification:  Thickening or hardening of the heart valves makes it difficult for blood to flow from the heart and causes a murmur. 
• Infections: Infections  that affect the heart and valves, such as endocarditis, an infection of the lining of the heart, valve problems occur when bacteria from other parts of the body travel to the heart. 
• Rheumatic fever:  When strep throat or scarlet fever is not treated properly, heart valve problems occur and these conditions affect normal blood flow. 
• High blood pressure:  This enlarges the heart and the heart’s main arteries. 
• Atherosclerosis:  When blood vessels thicken and harden, the risk of heart problems increases.

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How is a Heart Murmur Diagnosed? 

To determine if a  heart murmur  is a sign of a more serious condition, the doctor uses a stethoscope to listen for the murmur’s height, pitch, location, and timing. Doctors also check when the murmur is occurring, for example, when the heart is filling with blood or emptying, and how certain actions, such as breathing and physical activity, affect the sound of the murmur. 

If the doctor detects a problem, he or she will refer the patient to a cardiologist and then order other tests such as a chest X-ray, EKG (electrocardiogram), or echocardiogram (echo) to evaluate the heart rhythm, structure, and function. These tests are used to detect underlying heart problems that may be causing the murmur. After the cause of the murmur is clarified, the patient and doctor decide on a treatment plan. 

How is a Heart Murmur Treated? 

Most  heart murmurs  are harmless and do not require any treatment. In a harmless heart murmur, no symptoms are noticed. If the murmur is caused by a condition such as a fever, infection, or thyroid problems, it usually goes away when the disease is treated. 

Treatment for an abnormal heart murmur depends on the type and severity of the heart problem causing it. In general, lifestyle changes and medications are used to treat heart valve diseases and related heart conditions. {6*}

To prevent coronary heart disease, drugs are used to widen blood vessels, lower high blood pressure , lower high cholesterol , prevent irregular heartbeats, prevent blood clots and reduce the workload of the heart. 

If lifestyle changes and medications do not resolve the heart valve problem, surgery is required. Doctors choose to repair a damaged heart valve to prevent further damage and worsening symptoms. This usually involves removing, adding or reshaping tissue or separating fused valve blades. 

Some types of surgery that can be done to repair or replace a heart valve are: {7*}

• Balloon Valvotomy:  It is a method of repairing incompletely opened heart valves using an invasive catheter. 
• Heart Valve Surgery: It is the process  of removing the defective valve and replacing it with an invasive catheter with a man-made or biological valve (made from pig, cow, or human heart tissue). 
• Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation:  A procedure to replace defective aortic valves using a balloon to widen a new valve. 
• Ross Operation: It is the process of removing the defective aortic valve and replacing it with its own pulmonary valve. This procedure is done with a cap taken from a deceased donor. {8*}

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What Should Be Done to Protect Heart Health? 

Maintaining heart health is very important. There are many ways to protect the health of your heart. 

Regular and Correct Nutrition

Foods that are good for the heart include: 

• High-fiber foods:  Fiber-rich foods such as oats and gluten-free grains (including brown rice, corn, buckwheat, and quinoa) help regulate cholesterol levels and lower the risk of coronary heart disease. {9*}
• Foods containing omega-3s: Foods containing omega-3 fatty acids, such as  fresh salmon, walnuts, chia seeds, and flaxseed , help reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure, and reduce your risk of stroke. 
• Leafy greens:  Green leafy vegetables like kale, spinach, chard, and kale are packed with heart-healthy nutrients like vitamin A , folate, magnesium, and potassium. These greens should be consumed to fight chronic diseases and reduce your risk of heart problems. 
• Fruits: Berries  like blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, and raspberries are packed with disease-fighting antioxidants. Berries help reduce inflammation, normalize your blood pressure, lower LDL cholesterol and increase body weight in a healthy way. {10*}
• Eggs: Eggs  have many health benefits, including their ability to reduce the risk of heart disease and fight inflammation. Eggs also help to balance the ratio of LDL and HDL cholesterol by regulating cholesterol absorption. {11th*}
• Herbs and spices:  Herbs and spices have anti-inflammatory properties that can support the health of your heart. The most beneficial ones are turmeric, raw garlic, cinnamon , ginger and rosemary . 
•  To protect heart health , it is necessary to stop consuming refined carbohydrates, which are used in the manufacture of processed and packaged foods such as cookies, crackers, chips and cakes. You should not eat soda and other sugary drinks and foods high in trans fats (such as margarine). 

Doing Regular Sports

It’s important to stay active by adding physical activities to your daily life. Exercise reduces chronic diseases and is beneficial for heart health, especially by lowering high blood pressure, improving blood circulation. {12*}

At least 30 minutes of exercise should be done five days a week. Especially walking, running, cycling, yoga, pilates, gymnastics and weight lifting (fitness) sports should be preferred. But people with heart health problems should avoid exercises that can cause shortness of breath.  

No Smoking

Quitting smoking can be difficult. Therefore, it is necessary to deal with this process physically, behaviorally and cognitively. Research shows that smoking cessation therapies can double or triple the chances of quitting. This is because of the mind-body connection that influences emotions and behaviors. {13*}

Trying mind-body practices such as meditation, yoga, manipulation, acupuncture , and massage therapy to quit smoking are known to have positive results. It also helps to cope with the emotional and behavioral withdrawal symptoms that make it difficult to quit smoking.

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Avoiding Stress

When stress is not managed, it can lead to an inflammatory response that affects the health of the heart and other major organs. Chronic stress triggers the occurrence of coronary heart disease and increases the risk of life-threatening cardiac events. {14*}

In order to reduce the stress level, it is necessary to add activities such as walking outside, meditating, spending time with family and pets, praying, getting enough sleep and exercising into daily routines. The use of relaxing, stress-reducing essential oils such as lavender , lemongrass, and ginger also helps reduce stress. 

 If these lifestyle changes alone do not help, professional help from a therapist who specializes in stress reduction is necessary. 

Maintaining Ideal Weight

Studies show that being overweight is associated with an increased risk of heart disease in men and women. {15*}  In order to lose weight in a healthy way, it is necessary to eat healthy, edema-reducing foods several times a week, and to do physical activity (such as waking up in the open air, dancing or doing yoga). Individuals who are unsure of which foods to eat can seek help from a health coach or dietitian. 

Eating a balanced and healthy diet will ensure that you get the nutrients needed for optimal health. In addition, taking vitamins that support heart health such as  Omega-3 fish oil, curcumin, coenzyme Q10 and vitamin D also help protect heart health. {16*}

Protecting Dental Health

It may seem strange to focus on dental hygiene to support heart health, but endocarditis infection, which can cause a harmful heart murmur, is usually caused by the spread of bacteria in the gums and tooth decay. If bacteria enter the bloodstream, they can damage the heart valves and cause a heart murmur or other serious symptoms. {17*}

To prevent endocarditis , it is necessary to brush the teeth, use dental floss and see the dentist regularly. It is necessary to change the toothbrushes regularly (at least once every three months) and use soft bristle brushes.