Heart Murmur: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment in Sugar Land, TX

World-Class Heart Murmur Treatments

If you or a loved one has recently been experiencing symptoms of a heart murmur, it can be a concerning time. At Reddy Cardiac Wellness & Diabetes Reversal Center, we understand the importance of timely and effective treatment for heart murmurs, which can indicate an underlying heart condition that requires attention. That’s why we offer comprehensive heart murmur treatment services in Sugar Land, TX, to help our patients manage their condition and improve their heart function. If you’re experiencing symptoms of a heart murmur or have been recently diagnosed, don’t wait – schedule a consultation with us today to learn more about how we can help.

What Is a Heart Murmur?

Heart murmur sounds are made by the heart during the cardiac cycle and can be heard with a stethoscope. They are usually caused by the turbulent blood flow through the heart valves and can be innocent or indicative of an underlying heart problem. Innocent heart murmurs are common and harmless, whereas abnormal heart murmurs may be caused by valve defects or other heart conditions, such as congenital heart defects or infections.

What Causes Heart Murmurs?

There are three types of heart murmurs: diastolic, systolic, and continuous. Diastolic murmurs occur when the heart is filling with blood, systolic murmurs occur when the heart is emptying, and continuous murmurs occur throughout the heartbeat. Heart murmurs that are harmless don’t typically cause any other issues besides the whooshing sound that the doctor hears when listening to the heart with a stethoscope. However, if a heart murmur is a cause for concern, the symptoms may vary depending on the underlying cause. Some heart murmur symptoms may include fingernails or lips that are gray or blue in color, chest pain, a persistent cough, dizziness, swollen liver, swollen neck veins, fainting, heavy sweating even without physical exertion, poor appetite and lack of growth in infants, shortness of breath, and sudden weight gain or swelling.

Different Types of Heart Murmur

The classification of heart murmurs is based on the timing of the murmur within the heartbeat. Systolic murmurs occur during the contraction of the heart muscle, while diastolic murmurs occur during the relaxation of the heart muscle. Continuous murmurs, on the other hand, happen during both the contraction and relaxation phases of the heart muscle.

How Is a Heart Murmur Diagnosed?

To diagnose a heart murmur, a healthcare provider uses a stethoscope to listen to your heart and detect any abnormal swishing sounds. During the examination, the provider listens to your heart from different positions on your chest and back while paying attention to the lub-dub sound, pitch, rhythm, timing, and volume of your heartbeat. Additionally, they may ask you to perform different actions like gripping your hands, sitting, squatting, standing suddenly, or lying down while listening to your heart.

Heart Murmur Treatments

Many individuals have heart murmurs that are not harmful and don’t need treatment. However, if the underlying cause of your heart murmur is another condition like high blood pressure, your healthcare provider will recommend treatment for that condition. Certain forms of heart valve disease may require treatment, such as medications to prevent blood clots or control irregular heartbeat, lower blood pressure, or diuretics to help your heart pump more effectively. Invasive procedures may also be necessary to fix congenital heart defects or certain types of valve disease. In rare cases, antibiotics may be prescribed before dental work or surgery to prevent heart infections.

How Do You Prevent Heart Murmur?

Heart murmurs are generally not preventable. However, it is possible to prevent them in some cases by treating underlying conditions, such as high blood pressure, or avoiding heart valve infections. By addressing these factors, it may be possible to stop heart murmurs from developing in the first place.

Why Choose Reddy Cardiac Wellness & Diabetes Reversal Center

At Reddy Cardiac Wellness & Diabetes Reversal Center, we understand the importance of early detection and treatment of heart murmurs to prevent potentially serious heart conditions from developing. Our experienced team of physicians is dedicated to providing the highest quality care to our patients in Sugar Land, TX, and surrounding areas. If you’re experiencing symptoms of a heart murmur or have been diagnosed with this condition, we encourage you to contact us today to learn more about our comprehensive heart murmur treatment services. With our individualized treatment plans and state-of-the-art technology, we can help you manage your heart health and live a full, healthy life.