what does it mean when you have a murmur in your heart?

Question

I went to the doctor for my headaches, and instead found something with my heart. They said that they could hear a murmur inside it. And they did an AKG on me, and said that it wasn't too good. So theyre sending me to a cardiologist, and now im kind of scared as to what the murmur could be inside my heart...

What could it be?

Ok, of all the times that I've been to the doctor, they've never noticed this "murmur" in my heart, and now it just appeard out of no where? Its kinda weird, plus still is freaky...

Answer 1

It is a leak in the heart usually in a valve. Most murmurs are functional, so don't worry too much.

Answer 2

Why do I keep hearing this "Is is probly nothing" or "it is an extra heart beat" Please people know what you are talking about before you answer. It is NOT nothing to worry about and it is NOT an extra heart beat!!! I just sit here saying "WOW" when I read the other answers! First of all anybody that thinks a heart murmur is "probly just nothing" is an idiot!!! My son was born with what the doctors told me was "just an innocent murmur" and it ended up being a very serious and life threatning CHD (congenital heart disease)called Tetralogy of Fallot and also a secondary CHD, a PDA ( patent ductus arteriousis, which is by the way, (somebody else posted) not "commom" in children. By the time my son was 9 months he had already had 2 open heart suregries! A Murmur is not the problem but meerley a "clue" to a problem. It is a SOUND not an extra beat, heard due to something such as a CHD, leaking valve, holes, and many other things. CHD is the #1 birth defect and the #1 birth defect causing DEATHS in infants. Alot of children go under diagnosed if not at all and then parents find out when it is too late. I have many friends this has happened to. Sence you are older it can be anything from an undetected CHD to a leaking valve, collapsing valve, or many more things. Make sure you go to the cardiologist and have an echocardiogram done. It is preety much an ultrasound of the heart and the best way to detect what is going on. Good luck and while it DEFINITELY is something to worry about, don't worry too much, they have so much technology now, it is becoming easier to repair the heart. GOOD LUCK! If you need some info or have questions please e-mail me . [e-mail]

Answer 3

Lilly a Heart Murmur is just a "funny sound" that the doctor hears in the stethoscope, meaning depending on "what is causing it" (some people mentioned a Hole others said a valve ) and they are all "kinda right" we just don't know which is affecting you.... The Echo is an Ultrasound the sound waves show the tech and doctors exactly how each of the four Chambers are working and how the valves are working too sometimes you might have a small tear between two chambers, and instead of hearing "pa chu" each pump it might seep some so it sounds like "pa chu woosh" I was born with a MURMUR and was declared free (outgrew It) at 13 years old... In Your Case, Its possible that your growing Into it... they will take a look using sound and get a very good idea what is happening and why, there is a good chance that you may be able to remain active but maybe not team sports too... Its always possible that the murmur was only an error too.. at your age your growing and changing a lot, this could easily be something you'll als grow out of too.... you can check out the American Heart Association Page at www.heart,org once you get there just type Heart Murmurs, you and your folks can see some of thedifferentt types. Now Mind you, There are many differentt types of murmurs and the larger number of them are passive you can also Google search Heart Murmurs though you'll get LOTS and lots OF info back most likely too much :)

Answer 4

A cardiac murmur is an abnormal heart sound heard while listening to your heart with a stethescope. It is caused by altered blood flow into a chamber of the heart or through a valve in the heart. In general many murmurs are benign and of no significance, but by going to the cardiologist (a doctor specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the heart) he can order some other tests such as an echocardiogram (ultrasound of your heart) so that he can learn more information about the murmur. Many people are born with a murmur and live with it everyday and do not have any problems with it.

Answer 5

A heart murmur is a noise your heart is making, I have one, had it for years. Yes, it could be serious, I'm not trying to scare you but, you need to know. Your doctor should have explained it to you, that wasn't fair of him.
My murmur is from a bad aortic valve that lets blood pass it after it closes but, it doesn't bother me. In fact when I had bypass surgery awhile ago, they didn't consider it, they said it isn't that bad although they could and still can hear it.

It can also mean a hole in the heart that passes blood. If you feel O.K. and your not bothered by any health problems, don't worry.
They'll keep their eyes on it from time to time as time passes. Many people have murmurs and never know it. Don't worry.

Answer 6

I had ( or still have one) it is when your heart beat has a repeat or extra beat, you could have a hole in your heart or what I had was a coarctation of the aorta which just means I had a narrowing on the one of the veins that takes blood away from the heart, I had surgery for it it to correct it but if the doctor still can hear the extra beat still it is just not as prominent as before. I will always have it. From my understanding there are a few different kinds of murmurs.

Answer 7

I was born with a slight murmur. All it is is that you have an extra beat in your heart, most likely caused from a valve not closing properly.


Mine comes and goes, and my doctor isn't worried about it.

Instead of having the normal lub-dub sound coming from my heart, I have lub-dub-dub, which is just one of the flaps from one of the valves in my heart doesnt close with the rest and closes slightly afterwards.

Mine isnt anything to be concerned with, but some people have it severe. But all it is, is just an extra beat in your heart.

Answer 8

I murmur in your heart means they hear extra sounds. Normally they hear the whoosh of blood and snapping open shut of the various valves. I can't tell you what it could be. But often it's a minor problem - no treatment necessary. If it was bad they'd stick you in the hospital right away.

Answer 9

its when your heart does an extra beat or skips a beat....people live with these all the time...just make sure when you go to your doctors appointments you ask as many questions as you feel necessary to make you feel comfortable...when i got diagnosed with my disorder i spent over two hours asking questions and the doctor sat there and was very patient with me to make sure i fully understood what was going on...the one dumb question is a quesion unasked make a list of questions you would like to ask such as...what is a murmur...where are they planning to go with all of this??...so on and so forth

Answer 10

A heart murmur is: An abnormal sound of the heart; sometimes a sign of abnormal function of the heart valves. I listed more information about what could cause a murmur, etc. below and provided links at the bottom so you can read mor. Best of luck to you.

Heart Murmur: Causes and Treatments
Causes:
Most heart murmurs are innocent: They are caused by blood flowing through healthy valves in a healthy heart, and do not require treatment. However, heart murmurs can be caused by blood flowing through a damaged or overworked heart valve. Heart-valve defects may be present at birth or heart-valve disease may result from other illnesses, such as rheumatic fever, heart disease, heart attacks, or infective endocarditis.

Types of Valve Disease
Mitral valve prolapse: Normally your mitral valve closes completely when your left ventricle contracts, preventing blood from flowing back into your left atrium. If part of the valve balloons out so that the valve does not close properly, you have mitral valve prolapse. This causes a clicking sound as your heart beats. Often, this common condition is not serious. However, in rare cases it leads to infective endocarditis or mitral regurgitation (backward blood flow through the valve); both can be serious.

Mitral valve or aortic stenosis: Your mitral or aortic valves, both on the left side of your heart, can become narrowed by scarring from infections, such as rheumatic fever, or may be narrow at birth. Such narrowing or constriction is called stenosis. In mitral valve or aortic stenosis, the heart has to work harder to pump enough blood to satisfy your body's oxygen needs. If untreated, stenosis can wear out your heart and can lead to heart failure.

Aortic sclerosis: One in three elderly people have a heart murmur due to the scarring, thickening, or stiffening (sclerosis) of the aortic valve. This condition is generally not dangerous; typically, the valve can function for years after the murmur is detected.

Mitral or aortic regurgitation: Regurgitation (backward flow) of blood can occur with mitral valve prolapse or mitral valve or aortic stenosis. To counteract this back flow, the heart must work harder to force blood through the damaged valve. Over time, this can weaken the heart and can lead to heart failure.

Congenital heart defects: About 25,000 babies are born each year with heart defects, such as holes in heart walls or misshapen heart valves. Many congenital heart defects can be corrected by surgery.

Other Possible Causes
Some common conditions can force your heart to beat faster, changing the rate and amount of blood moving through your heart and resulting in heart murmurs. You and your doctor should monitor all of these conditions:

Pregnancy
Anemia
High blood pressure
Overactive thyroid
Fever
Diagnostic and Test Procedures
Usually heart murmurs are detected during a physical examination. Your doctor will be able to hear your heart murmur when listening to your heart with a stethoscope.

Your doctor may order one or more of the following tests to see whether your heart murmur is innocent or whether it is caused by acquired valve disease or a congenital defect:

Electrocardiogram (ECG), which measures the electrical activity of the heart
Chest X-rays to see if the heart is enlarged due to heart or valve disease
Echocardiography, which uses sound waves to map the heart structure
Treatment
Treatment for heart murmur depends on the cause. Many children and adults have innocent heart murmurs, which do not indicate disease and require no treatment. Sometimes, mitral valve prolapse requires no treatment, just periodic checkups by your doctor. When other conditions, such as high blood pressure, cause heart murmurs, your doctor will treat the underlying cause. Some types of valve disease may require medication or surgery. Here are some treatments your doctor may discuss with you:

Prophylactic (preventive) antibiotics to reduce the risk of heart infection, typically taken before dental work or some kinds of surgery.
Drug treatments, including:
Anticoagulants to prevent blood clots
Antiarrhythmics to control irregular heartbeat
Beta-adrenergic blockers to control palpitations (rapid heartbeat, or heart fluttering)
Vasodilators to relax and open the blood vessels, thus reducing the pressure against which the heart must pump
Diuretics to remove excess salts and water from the body, reducing blood pressure and making it easier for your heart to pump
Surgery to correct congenital heart defects
Surgery to correct certain types of valve disease
Prevention
Heart murmurs cannot be prevented except in cases where an underlying condition, such as high blood pressure, may be detected and treated before heart murmur develops.

Call Your Doctor If:
You experience symptoms that may indicate heart-valve disease or heart failure, including:

Chest pain
Unexplained breathlessness, fatigue, or fainting
Heart palpitations

Click these links for more info:
http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/heart-murmur-causes-treatments
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/heart%20murmur

Good luck to you.