what does the term, "fourth heartbeat" mean?

Question

I recently overheard my doctor and he stated that he heard a fourth heatbeat upon examaning me, does anyone know what that means.....he has told me however that everything is fine, and i do not need have any concerns

Answer 1

This small detail will help you out:

Fourth heart sound S4

The rare fourth heart sound S4 is sometimes audible in healthy children, but when audible in an adult is called a presystolic gallop. This gallop is a sign of a pathologic state, usually a failing left ventricle. This sound occurs just after atrial contraction ("atrial kick") and is the sound of blood being forced into a stiff/hypertrophic left ventricle. The combined presence of S3 and S4 is a quadruple gallop. At rapid heart rates, S3 and S4 may merge to produce a summation gallop.

Answer 2

That is odd counting that a fourth heart beat is not normal. Are you sure the doctor was talking about you??? You should have asked the doctor?? But technically here is how it works: A normal healthy heart should have two sounds. The first sound is heard when the mitral valve (b/w left atrium and left ventricle)and tricuspid valve (b/w right atrium and right ventricle) close. The second hear sound is heard when aortic (b/w left ventricle and aorta) and pulmonic (b/w lungs and left atrium) valves close. It could be normal to hear a third heart sound that goes after the second in kids and athletes or on inspiration, because pulmonic and aortic valve dont close together. Ano other heart sound is abnormal. 4th heart sound means that the atrium of your heart is beating just fine and it is sending the impulses to the ventricles, but the ventricles are stiff and they are not responding, So 4th heart sound is really not a good thing. If I was you I would call the doctor and make sure that you overheard correctly.

Answer 3

Actually, I disagree with 'Loving Heart' above. A fourth heart sound (usually abbreviated S4) is a sound caused by atrial contraction, just before ventricular systole. It's actually quite common in young people if you listen for it, and in anyone under 30 is essentially a normal finding indicating vigorous atrial contraction. In older people, it often signifies an abnormally stiff ventricle, which can be caused by high blood pressure, poor blood flow, or poor ventricular function. It rarely indicates an acute problem, though. If you're young, I wouldn't worry - it's a normal finding, and the only reason your doctor mentioned it is because he thinks it's kind of neat that he heard it (since physical exam skills are going the way of the dodo). If you're older, it probably indicates that *something* is going on with your heart, but if you've had an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) it's probably obvious what that is. Either way, you probably don't need to worry about it.

Answer 4

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RE:
what does the term, "fourth heartbeat" mean?
I recently overheard my doctor and he stated that he heard a fourth heatbeat upon examaning me, does anyone know what that means.....he has told me however that everything is fine, and i do not need have any concerns

Answer 5

well the fourth heart sound also callled as atrial sound is produced during the atrial contraction. It is heard after the first sound i.e late in the diastole. It is produced when the atria forcefully tries to pump blood in the non compliant ventricles.It cannot be heard normally but can be recorded with phonocardiograph.In abnormal situation it can be heard eg.heart attack, after myocardial infraction it can be heard frequently.So do take care .

Answer 6

A fourth heart sound (not beat) means the ventricle is stiff and the atrial kick is audible over the apex. If you are above 60yrs of age, its normal, if not it suggests you have LV diastolic dysfunction.

Answer 7

4th Heart Sound