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Suggest Treatment For Heart Murmur
Question: If a murmur is only audible when a patient is tachycardic (after/during exertion) is it significant? Why is it only audible then and not at rest?
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
I understand your concern and would explain that a heart murmur audible only during physical exertion could indicate possible hemodinamic obstruction of the blood flow in the heart. This could be caused by different structural heart disorders:
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- Mitral valve prolapse
- Valvular disease
- A congenital heart defect, for example an interatrial or interventricular shunt, which becomes more prominent during physical activity because of the higher speed of circulating blood.
There are also some other situation, non related to the heart that may lead to similar symptomatology:
- anemia
- pregnancy
What is your past medical history? Do you suffer from any other disorders?
I would recommend performing a cardiac ultrasound to examine your cardiac structure and function and exclude possible cardiac causes of these heart murmurs.
You should discuss with your doctor on the above possibilities.
Hope to have been helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
I understand your concern and would explain that a heart murmur audible only during physical exertion could indicate possible hemodinamic obstruction of the blood flow in the heart. This could be caused by different structural heart disorders:
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- Mitral valve prolapse
- Valvular disease
- A congenital heart defect, for example an interatrial or interventricular shunt, which becomes more prominent during physical activity because of the higher speed of circulating blood.
There are also some other situation, non related to the heart that may lead to similar symptomatology:
- anemia
- pregnancy
What is your past medical history? Do you suffer from any other disorders?
I would recommend performing a cardiac ultrasound to examine your cardiac structure and function and exclude possible cardiac causes of these heart murmurs.
You should discuss with your doctor on the above possibilities.
Hope to have been helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I have had an ECHO already and they said there is a minimal left to right shunt (no right to left). Otherwise ECHO was normal. I get short of breath with simple activity, especially after going up stairs or an incline. That is when the murmur is audible, and it is pretty obvious. My heart rate increases quickly after going up just a couple stairs. Sometimes I get dizzy or feel like my legs are going to give out. My heart rate quickly returns to normal if I lay down. I feel fine when I'm resting. I often have to take deep breaths, it feels like it takes effort to breath. I had PFTs done and the only thing that is abnormal is a reduced DLCO. I was always very active. Over the past year I have been able to do less and less. I become fatigued very easily.
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
As a congenital septal defect with a subsequent left to right shunt is present, it is important to carefully investigate the clinical consequences of this abnormality.
As you are experiencing shortness of breath with excessive tachycardia, weakness, dizziness, etc. with minimal exertion, this means that this left to right shunt, may not be so minimal or innocent.
An optimal way to study the septal abnormal communication between left and right heart is to perform a trans-esophageal echocardiography for properly visualizing the anatomy of the defect and its severity.
And also another way for clarifying this issue especially if there is a discrepancy between the clinical symptomatology and the echocardiographic findings is to perform a heart catheterization study in the XXXXXXX lab.
If you have any available cardiac reports you could upload it here for a direct review.
Hope to have helpful!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
As a congenital septal defect with a subsequent left to right shunt is present, it is important to carefully investigate the clinical consequences of this abnormality.
As you are experiencing shortness of breath with excessive tachycardia, weakness, dizziness, etc. with minimal exertion, this means that this left to right shunt, may not be so minimal or innocent.
An optimal way to study the septal abnormal communication between left and right heart is to perform a trans-esophageal echocardiography for properly visualizing the anatomy of the defect and its severity.
And also another way for clarifying this issue especially if there is a discrepancy between the clinical symptomatology and the echocardiographic findings is to perform a heart catheterization study in the XXXXXXX lab.
If you have any available cardiac reports you could upload it here for a direct review.
Hope to have helpful!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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