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Question about Heart Murmur

I have been getting chest and jaw pain for quite some time now.  I also have pain in both my armsa nd shoulders, but I feel it more in my left arm and shoulder, and at times I feel the pain in my left side of my face.  My doctor said that I have a heart murmur and I am scheduled for an echocardiogram next week.  My question is: Will the heart murmur go away?  Also, I play Rugby, will the heart murmur interfere with Rugby?
Thank you for your time.
Cassie
32 Responses
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367994 tn?1304953593
For some insight to heart murmur: A heart murmur is actually a blood flow analysis and a sound that is heard when the valves in your heart fail to close properly. There can be many conditions for cause (temporary,treatable)  and some permanent.  But common symptoms of a heart murmur are shortness of breath, swelling, cyanosis, dizziness, and fatigue.

Palpitations has many underlying causes such as anxiety, caffeine, nicotine, stress, exercise, fever, hormones, thyroid issues, and several different medications.  They are relatively common, and because it is oftened caused by external stimuli they are not serious. There would be no murmur.

If there is a heart condition and a murmur connection, it would be due to Mitral valve prolapse.  Most people who have MVP don't even know it because it usually is harmless and doesn't cause symptoms. MV prolapse can be a heart issue and can be heard as a murmur.
Hope this helps.  Thanks for sharing and take care.







Helpful - 0
212161 tn?1599427282
those drinks are not good for you , my son was drinking up to two a day ended up in er with hearth paps from the , so yes the flutter could be from the, go off of them for a while see if they stop my sons did. or you could have pac/pvc i have had the paps since i was 23 noe 50, they are scarey but not a problem, at any point you should always see your dr when a new thing happens with your heart just to get it checked out and make aure its nothing.

on the murmur, i just had a echo and i to have a heart murmur dr says most have one not a concern.   do they always do a doppler with a echo not sure if i had that or just a echo they was looking at my values to see if they were normal. can they tell if you have blockage of heart with a reg echo.
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Avatar universal
I have been reading the comments about the heart murmurs. I have had two separate doctors tell me they heard a heart murmur while listening to my heart. My question has to do with fluttering. I have always felt a flutter from time to tiime, but last night the fluttering was so bad it kept waking me up and my heart felt like it was beating really hard. I had drank an energy drink earlier that morning. Is this fluttering connected to a heart murmur or is it something I should have checked out?

rashaw2
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367994 tn?1304953593
Please post the results of your echo, and from the report we can clearly understand if there is a heart problem.  
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Avatar universal
Thank you for replying.  I was still confused because there were abnormal sounds on the echocardiogram caused by the heart murmur.  Also, my doctor said that the whooshing sound is from the heart murmur.  When I take my pulse at times, each time it goes up over 100 and I hear a whooshing sound as well.
Cassie
Helpful - 0
367994 tn?1304953593
I'm not aware of any sounds with an echo that distinquishes a heart murmur representing mitral valve regurgitation.  The stethoscope hears an extra sound representing a murmur that could be valve leakage.

If your doctor is concerned of a possible valve disorder, it seems he would give an echo and Doppler to visualize the valve structure and the blood flow. With the Doppler, when the heart pumps (left ventricle) the blood going forward would be red (normal), and at the same time there would be another color (green) squirting back into the left atrium.
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Avatar universal
Thank you for replying.  The doctor originally found my heart murmur through a stethoscope and he said it sounds like a whooshing or swishing sound.  When I found out online about the echocardiogram, it said the echocardiogram can sound like a whooshing soound because of the heart murmur.  I also saw some red colors, but don't know what it means.

What is a Doppler?
Cassie
Helpful - 0
367994 tn?1304953593
I have heard the whoosing sound of an echo and it sounds like ocean waves hitting the beach.  That may be in part the sound of blood flow, but it is the Doppler software that is usually provided with the echo, and identifies any valve abnormalities. I saw my function of the mitral valve and it showed red for the forward flow and a different color for backflow.

I assume you are talking about the Doppler and not the echo. The additional use of Doppler helps to identify abnormal leakage across heart valves and determine their severity. Doppler is also very useful in diagnosing the presence and severity of valve stenosis  or narrowing. Unlike echocardiography, Doppler follows the direction and velocity of blood flow rather than the movement of the valve leaflets or components. Thus, reversed blood direction is seen with leakages while increased forward velocity of flow with a characteristic pattern is noted with valve stenosis.

Echocardiography is used to diagnose mitral valve prolapse while Doppler identifies whether it is associated with leakage or regurgitation of the mitral valve. . .
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Avatar universal
Thank you for replying.  This is the confusing part though.  I read online that heart murmurs can be heard on an echo as a whooshing or swishing sound.  The doctor that was doing it told me that sound is from the murmur.  I am waiting on the results.  The hospital has to review the test.  The doctor said a possible leaky heart valve or a Mitral valve problem.  My heart beats rapidly still even when I am not doing anything or stressed out.  It also skips a beat at time.  Also, when I am lying down, my heart seems to beat faster.
Cassie
Helpful - 0
367994 tn?1304953593
The sound you hear during an echo test are sounds from high frequency sound waves to image the heart and surrounding tissues. The sound waves feed back a moving picture of the heart..It is is a normal sound from a functioning echocardiogram process.

Cold sweats might also indicate lowered blood pressure, and could be a sign of a heart or circulatory problem. To be assured there is no serious heart problem, you may want to contact your doctor.

I recently got a new computer on line, and that put me a little behind on your previous post.
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Avatar universal
Did you read my last post.  I still have a question.  Also, the whooshing is from the heart murmur right?

For a few nights also, I have been getting cold sweat on my forehead, but I don't know if that has anything to do with the chest and jaw pain. Do you know if it does? With the heart murmur I have, I heard a whooshing on the echocardiogram and I could have a leaky valve.  But I will know more once the results come back. I will keep you posted. Not feeling well at all. I am very tired and I get lightheaded at times and I get weak.
Cassie
Helpful - 0
367994 tn?1304953593
Thanks for your response.  Keep us posted, and hope it goes well with you.
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Avatar universal
Hi Cassie..I was diagnosed with an Atrial Septal Defect last year at the age of 34yr old.  basically, I had a hole in my heart and was born with it. I never had any symptoms, but some people do present with symptoms. My doctor heard a heart murmur on a check up...apparently it's not uncommon for it to go missed. An echo showed the ASD. I recently got it fixed with a device and was able to avoid open heart surgery. I hope  you get some answers. Heart murmurs can be nothing, but it's always good to rule everything out.
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Avatar universal
Thank you for replying.  I went for my follow-up appointment with my PCP and he reffered me to a Cardiologist next week. I am also getting a 24 hour heart monitor too sometime next week. He said my symptoms are not normal. I still have pain in my chest and jaw, and pain both my arms and shoulders, mostly on the left side, and the left part of my face. I got an echocardiogram done today, and waiting for the results. I also get rapid heartbeats at times that go over 100 beats per minute even when I am not doing anything or stressed out. For a few nights also, I have been getting cold sweat on my forehead, but I don't know if that has anything to do with the chest and jaw pain. Do you know if it does? With the heart murmur I have, I heard a whooshing on the echocardiogram and I could have a leaky valve.  But I will know more once the results come back. I will keep you posted. Not feeling well at all. I am very tired and I get lightheaded at times and I get weak.
Cassie  
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Avatar universal
Also, my heart was beating very rapidly during practice.  Twice as fast as it normally does when I exercise and it was still beating very fast several hours after practice.
Cassie
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Avatar universal
Thank you for replying.  Actually, I was short of breath and fatigued at Rugby practice.  But now I will wait until I see my doctor and till I get the echocardioogram before I go back to practice.
Cassie
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367994 tn?1304953593
I have serious (moderate to severe) mitral valve regurgitation.  Almost always there are no symptoms until the condition is severe, and the problem is that less than adequate blood is pumped with each heartbeat, and the heart is stressed to pump more blood and the consequences thereof..  

Mitral valve regurgitation is usually mild and progresses slowly. One may have no symptoms for decades and be unaware that you have this condition.  Sometimes, however, the problem develops quickly, and you may experience a sudden onset of more-severe signs and symptoms (this is very unlikely but must be ruled out.)...but if you are playing Rugby without shortness of breath and fatigue that would be inconsistent with a serious valve problem.

Sometimes, the first signs of mitral valve regurgitation are actually those of its complications, including heart failure. Heart failure is a condition in which your heart can't pump enough blood to the rest of your body, causing shortness of breath, fluid buildup and fatigue. This was my experience, and you don't have any symptoms of inadequate blood flow.

It may be unsafe to be involved in any physical activity until your doctor finds the underlying cause for your symptoms. Let us know the outcome.  Take care.
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Avatar universal
hear murmur.  It is supposed to be heart murmur.  Misspelled.
Cassie
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Avatar universal
Thank you for replying. My other doctor said I could have a heart valve problem caused by the heart murmur. Can this be possible? Also I have Rugby practice this week and I have to get my echocardiogram this Friday, will it be safe to go to practice? Also, when I found out I had a heart murmur, I still went to practice and my heart was beating even faster thatn it usually beats when I exercise. It waa still beating faster even several hours after practice.

Aslo, I thought when people hve innocent heart murmurs, they have no symptoms of chest pain.  I do and the pain radiates to my jaw and my arms, especially my left arm, and the left side of my face.  I have a variety of symtoms that bother me constantly.  All I need to do now is wait until I get the echocardiogram to see what is causing the hear murmur.
Cassie
Helpful - 0
367994 tn?1304953593
Don't let some of the posts unduly alarm you.  There is much repetition of the same information,  but you can be assured many murmurs turn out to be innocent (harmless).

For some insight, people who have innocent heart murmurs have normal hearts. They usually have no other signs or symptoms of heart problems. Innocent murmurs are common in healthy individuals.. Many, if not most, individuals  will have heart murmurs heard by their doctors at some time in their lives.

People who have abnormal murmurs may have other signs or symptoms of heart problems and due to congenital heart defects. These are heart defects that are present at birth. However, heart valve problems can be caused by infection, disease, or aging  and your test will in all probability rule that out .

Take care and lets us know the results of your upcoming evaluation.  Your symptoms are interesting and whether or not the symptoms are due to heart related disorder.
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Avatar universal
It's just an old saying, Cassie.  When you go to a lot of trouble about something that turns out to be nothing, then you can laugh about it later on, if you have a positive attitude.  Better to laugh about it than to get upset.  That's all it means, when people say that.

Marksman's point is well taken that people shouldn't try to scare you, and it's not my intention to do that.  Keep your appointment for the echo and see what comes of it.  Take it easy in the meantime.  It's possible that the doctor might want more tests, after the echo.  If so, follow through with the process and see if you can't get some relief from the chest pain.

Let us know how things go.  I will be thinking about you.
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Avatar universal
What do you mean "Hopefully, this will turn out to be nothing, and we can all have a good laugh about it later on"  Laugh about what?
Cassie
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Avatar universal
What marksman says is true enough, as far as it goes.  Some murmurs are considered "innocent" and have no real functional significance.  

In cmasse's case, it is not the simple fact of a murmur that is concerning.  It is the fact that she has both a murmur and persistent chest pain that radiates into her arms and jaw.  She should not panic, and I hope I have not precipitated panic, but she should be concerned enough to take the problem seriously.  If the echo appointment is scheduled for next week, that is not very long to cut back on strenuous activities such as rugby.  Hopefully, this will turn out to be nothing, and we can all have a good laugh about it later on.  But a symptomatic murmur is regarded a bit differently from one that has never caused any problems.  Should the echo turn out normal, which we can all hope it does, she will still need to understand why she has the chest pain.
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Avatar universal
Dont let everyone scare you.   Heart murmurs are common (especially systolic).   Most of the time they are benign (meaning of no significance)    A lot of innocent murmurs are not from backflow but from forward flow (antegrade) where blood is moving faster out of either the pulmonary or aortic valve.   A normal echo (if they find nothing else) means this is probably a physiologic murmur caused by forward flow (Flow murmur)    That means your heart is perfectly normal.    Do some google searching and wait to see what they tell you at your appt.   Let us know!
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