Heart Murmur
Symptoms
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Patients can be seen in
Candover Clinic or The Hampshire Clinic, Basingstoke.
We are now offering video consultations.
Cardiology Consultation
It is possible that your doctor has told you that you have a ‘heart murmur’ when examining your heart. The sound of a heart murmur is the sound you can hear with a stethoscope when listening to the heart. Alternatively, a heart murmur can simply be a benign noise that some people can hear. It may indicate a potential problem with the heart valves such as narrowing or leaking. You should seek specialist help if you experience symptoms such as breathlessness or chest pain after being told you have a heart murmur.
As a result of the heart working harder to support two separate circulations (the mother’s and the baby’s), heart murmurs are very common during pregnancy. A heart condition can also develop during pregnancy, so if you have been told that you have a heart murmur while pregnant, you should make an appointment to have it evaluated.
Family histories of heart disease, also called congenital heart disease, can also cause heart murmurs. Often referred to as a ‘hole-in-the-heart’, heart murmurs can involve complex heart problems. Furthermore, heart murmurs can be accompanied by other heart conditions (such as heart failure). In addition, although it is rare, previous history of rheumatic fever may also result in heart murmurs later in life due to thickening and narrowing of the heart valves.
In order to determine the cause of a heart murmur, an echocardiogram is the best test. The majority of heart murmurs are completely harmless and have no long-term effect. However, if you are concerned, it is always advisable to consult a specialist.