Many people suffer from heart murmurs. Although, while it is true that most of the time it is somewhat harmless, it is worth taking into account. They are basically due to an uneven blood flow that causes a strange sound as it passes through the blood vessels of the heart and its valves: a murmur.
Heart murmurs can be classified into different forms according to their degree of incidence, most of them, as we say, being harmless. However, sometimes they can hide a more serious anomaly in the heart, hence the importance of taking them into account and knowing their symptoms. We invite you to discover all the information below. Notes!
1. What is the origin of a heart murmur?
- A heart valve that has some kind of problem: A heart murmur may be caused, for example, by a thickened valve. A congenital problem that, in the long term, may require some type of intervention. Sometimes, diseases such as arteriosclerosis can also cause this problem, hence the importance of taking care of ourselves and establishing regular check-ups with our cardiologist.
- Anemia: Did you know that anemia can also cause a heart murmur? That’s right, and this is because, due to the lack of red blood cells and therefore that level of oxygen in the blood, our heart is forced to pump faster, which can lead to a heart murmur.
- Problems between two heart chambers: Especially due to the communication between the two atria, or between the two ventricles of the heart. Its origin is also usually congenital.
- Arteriosclerosis: It is a disease that we must take into account, as it affects both our arteries and the heart valves. It damages them by producing a narrowing, which causes an abnormal rhythm in the circulation of blood and emits a very particular hiss in the arteries (the heart murmur).
- Other related issues: Sometimes, a fever or a problem with our thyroid can also cause a heart murmur. We must take this into account.
2. Symptoms of a heart murmur
It is common for us to associate the symptoms of a heart murmur with tiredness. What’s more, in the case of women, heart problems usually occur without us paying too much attention to them: Factors such as stress, worries or classic daily exhaustion make us not give importance to things that we label as “normal” but that, in reality, are not. It is important that you know how to listen to yourself, take care of yourself and that you do not neglect any aspect related to your health. Notes:
- When you make a little effort, you notice how your heart immediately races. Climbing a staircase, taking a short run to catch the subway or getting up in a hurry in the morning, immediately causes characteristic fatigue and an elevation in your heart rate. It is the most distinctive thing.
- You have a hard time breathing. When, for example, you have been walking for a while, you notice that you have to stop because you are short of breath.
- You feel chest pain, like a burning plaque attached to this area of your body every time you exert yourself.
- In more serious cases, it is common that, after climbing a staircase, or walking for a long time, our lipsand fingertips take on a bluish hue. It would be a symptom of a high lack of oxygen in the blood that is known as cyanosis and that, therefore, we must inform our doctor.
- Swelling and continuous fluid retention.
- With any small exercise, the veins in our neck swell strikingly.
- We must also be very attentive in the case of the little ones. If you see that your children do not develop according to their age, and that they are always very tired, let your pediatrician know.
3. Can a heart murmur be prevented?
We must bear in mind that some heart murmurs are due to congenital problems, so the most appropriate thing to do in these cases will always be to follow medical guidelines and recommendations. Maintaining a good quality of life and healthy habits will always allow us to prevent many heart problems, so it never hurts to follow the following guidelines:
- Watch your cholesterol levels. In this way, we can avoid the hardening of veins and arteries, and thus achieve proper blood circulation.
- Take care of your iron levels to avoid anemia. Never neglect those foods rich in iron and vitamin C that help you prevent it.
- Maintain a balanced and varied diet, where you restrict the consumption of fats, processed or industrial foods, refined flours and salt.
- There are infusions that are very suitable for taking care of our heart health, such as horsetail, lemon balm, valerian, hawthorn, rosemary and rue infusion or even green tea.
- A little gentle exercise each day. If you don’t have any serious heart problems, never neglect to do some exercise that keeps your heart going. A 20-minute walk, or a little swimming, is enough.
- Finally, and most importantly, establish regular check-ups with your cardiologist to rule out any problems. Your health deserves it.
Source: Better with Health
