WHAT IS A HEART MURMUR?

A heart murmur refers to a swishing or whooshing sound made by the heart. This sound can be heard through a cardiologist’s stethoscope and is different from the usual sound of your heartbeat.

Heart murmurs may be present from birth, meaning it is a congenital heart defect, or it may be developed later on in life.

However, it is important to note that there are two types of heart murmurs. In some cases, there is no additional symptoms involved and this is known as an innocent murmur. In contrast, some cases of heart murmur are accompanied by other symptoms and can signify a serious condition.

A pediatric cardiologist in Dubai can detect heart murmur present in babies and children. They can also determine the severity of the situation and whether there is a need for treatment.

Symptoms of Heart Murmur

In the case of an innocent heart murmur, there will not be any other symptoms present. The only way to detect would be by your cardiologist listening through a stethoscope.

However, in abnormal heart murmur cases, there may be several other noticeable symptoms. This includes the following:

• Chest pain
• Blueish skin, especially on fingertips and lips
• Swelling or sudden weight gain
• Shortness of breath
• Chronic cough
• Enlarged liver
• Enlarged neck veins
• Poor appetite and failure to grow normally in infants
• Heavy sweating with little or no activity

Most cases of heart murmur are innocent. However, if you suspect your infant or child of having murmur or the related symptoms, it is important to book a visit with your pediatric cardiologist in Dubai. Your pediatrician will be able to determine whether the case is innocent or abnormal, and then provide the right treatment.

What Causes Heart Murmur?

There are three possible reasons for a heart murmur to occur:

1. When the heart is filling with blood (diastolic murmur)
2. When the heart is emptying (systolic murmur)
3. Throughout the heartbeat (continuous murmur)

A murmur is not always indicative of a serious issue. Many times, a murmur can be heard when blood flows more rapidly than usual in the heart. This is possible in infants, children, and adults.

Other causes of an innocent murmur may be anemia, pregnancy, fever, or growth in adolescents.

However, there may be some more serious causes of a heart murmur. In children and newborns, it may be a side effect of a congenital heart defect, such as:

Septal defects

This refers to a hole in the heart. It may or may not be serious, depending on the size and location.

Cardiac shunts

This occurs when there is an abnormal blood flow between the heart chambers or blood vessels, and can lead to a heart murmur

Heart valve defects that are present from birth

 Such as valves that do not allow enough blood through them, or those that don’t close properly and leak.

If heart murmurs in your child are being caused by a congenital heart defect, it is important to visit a hospital’s department of pediatric cardiology in UAE. A specialist cardiologist can diagnose the exact cause and determine the type of treatment that is necessary.

Treatment of Heart Murmurs

It is important to note that there is no treatment for heart murmurs in and of themselves. However, a pediatric cardiologist in Dubai can determine the underlying cause of the heart murmur and then set a treatment plan for that condition. This can eventually make the heart murmur go away.

In cases of innocent murmurs, there may not be need for treatment. If you are unsure about the severity of your condition, we advise you visit the best heart doctor in Dubai at the German Heart Center, who can help you diagnose the cause.