Heart Murmer - Slightly Irregular Valve?

Question

My doctor detectd a heart mumer. I am 48 years old. Had a echocardiogram performed. He says that I have a sightly irregular valve and I do not need to take precautions. I run three miles a day.

I have heard that this condition makes your heart more suceptiable to infection. You should take antibiotics when dental work is done.

My GP is a man of few words. Just says continue as usual and nothing needs to be done unless there is further symptomns.

My question: Should I follow up with a heart specialist or would it be over doing it? Should I go on antibiotics when I get dental work? Can this "Slightely irregular valve" get worse?

Answer 1

kcharan - Unfortunately, you don't have enough information for anyone to give you an educated answer. The question of "who should get antibiotics before dental work?" is extremely controversial. Almost everyone would agree that someone with prosthetic valves, most kinds of congenital heart disease, a previous episode of endocarditis, and surgically created shunts/conduits should get antibiotics before dental procedures. Everything else is variable depending on whom you ask. The American Heart Association, the European Society of Cardiology, the British Cardiac Society, and the British Soceity of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy all have their own recommendations, and they are all different to some degree!

To better answer your question, you need to find out which valve is abnormal, what your doctor means by "slightly irregular", if there is any valvular regurgitation (leakiness) or stenosis (stiffness), and if so, how much.

With this information, a cardiologist should be able to tell you how high your risk of endocarditis is and when, if ever, you should take antibiotic prophylaxis. They could also tell you if you have a condition that could get worse and whether it should be followed with regular echocardiograms.

One thing I can tell you is that the research data to support antibiotics before dentalwork for people with minor valve problems (I don't mean the conditions mentioned earlier) is minimal and the actual risk is probably very low. Doctors used to make the recommendations based on educated guessing. But now, it is generally felt that taking antibiotics unnecessarily is NOT a case of "it can't hurt". It can potentially cause dangerous allergic reactions or promote development of drug-resistant bacteria.

In my opinion, it is never "overdoing it" to seek a second opinion from a specialist. As medical practitioners, we are here to do what is right for the patient. If it would give you peace of mind to speak to a cardiologist, then by all means do so!

Answer 2

Actually this is quite common and is usually not a concern. It is generally felt that the misshapen valve leaves you more open to potential infection, especially when having dental work done. But this is quite rare. Still, if the dentist knows you have the condition they will require you to take a "loading" dose of antibiotics to protect yourself when you have any work done. Occasionaly I would forget and they would send me home. Geeze. Still, better safe than sorry.
In the big scheme of things it means very, very little and you will probably never know its there. There is no need to see a specialist, again, this is very common and very, very rarely causes any problems. Just keep on keeping on and you will be fine. Just consider the antibiotics pre-dental work. All you have to do is call the doctors office, tell them you need some for a dental visit, they will fax over a script to the pharmacy, you pick it up, eat something first, then take the antibiotics and you are done, no big deal.
I hope this helps.

Answer 3

I genuinely have a coronary heart murmer which i grew to become into clinically determined with while i grew to become into born and it hasn't made any issues for me. The scientific institution can provide her an echocardiogram which will enable them to verify the quantity of the middle murmer whether it particularly is maximum possibly to be an harmless murmer which will require no therapy and because having mine clinically determined at delivery i've got no longer mandatory to have mine checked till i've got been given pregnant and had to have a repeat echocardiogram because of the fact they lost my previous outcomes!!

Answer 4

Hi not much help but i am a 26 year old female, My doc also found a mumer and then a leaking valve,said there was no need to worry this would never be a problem,but i have a history of heart disease and hypertension so I am getting a second opinion you know your body best get one to if you are concerned! Wish you the best, glad to hear i was not the only one told not to worry.

Answer 5

I have the same thing. Don't stress too much about it, it may even correct itself in time. If you had an echocardiogram which I did also, if there was a bigger problem he would have told you. It's not in a doctors best interest to sugarcoat a problem you have. It could open up the chance for malpractice lawsuits. Relax and stay healthy, good for you for still exercising! Hopefully you match that with a healthy diet.

Answer 6

usually the antibiotics are reserved for mitral valve murmurs. which valve is the problem? get copies of your medical records!