What Should Seniors Know About Heart Murmurs?
Heart murmurs are sounds heard during heartbeat that indicate turbulent blood flow. Many seniors have heart murmurs, and while some are harmless, others indicate valve problems requiring attention. Understanding heart murmurs helps seniors know when they need further evaluation.
Understanding Heart Murmurs
Heart murmurs are whooshing or swishing sounds heard through a stethoscope during the heartbeat. Normal blood flow is silent. When blood flows turbulently through the heart or blood vessels, it creates audible sounds.
Murmurs are described by their timing in the heartbeat, location, loudness, and quality. These characteristics help determine the cause and significance. Not all murmurs indicate disease.
Types of Heart Murmurs
Innocent murmurs occur without heart disease. Blood flowing through a normal heart can create sounds, especially during fever, anemia, pregnancy, or exercise. These murmurs require no treatment and cause no harm.
Abnormal murmurs result from heart problems, most commonly valve disease in seniors. Valves that do not open fully or do not close completely create turbulent flow. The murmur’s characteristics suggest which valve is affected.
Common Causes in Seniors
Aortic stenosis, narrowing of the aortic valve, is the most common valve problem requiring treatment in seniors. Calcium deposits stiffen the valve over decades. The resulting murmur is heard during contraction.
Aortic regurgitation occurs when the aortic valve does not close completely, allowing blood to leak backward. This creates a murmur during relaxation.
Mitral regurgitation, leakage of the mitral valve, is very common in seniors. Mild regurgitation is often benign. Severe regurgitation strains the heart.
Other causes include other valve problems, holes between heart chambers, and conditions affecting blood vessels.
When Murmurs Need Evaluation
New murmurs discovered during examination warrant evaluation to determine the cause. Even murmurs without symptoms need characterization to guide monitoring.
Murmurs with symptoms including shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue, dizziness, or fainting need prompt evaluation. Symptoms suggest the underlying problem is affecting heart function.
Changes in known murmurs may indicate worsening of underlying conditions. Report changes to your healthcare provider.
Diagnosis
Echocardiography, ultrasound of the heart, visualizes heart valves and blood flow. This test identifies the cause and severity of murmurs. Most murmur evaluation begins with echocardiography.
Additional tests may include electrocardiogram, chest X-ray, and sometimes cardiac catheterization. Testing depends on the suspected cause and severity.
Treatment
Innocent murmurs need no treatment. Knowing a murmur is innocent provides reassurance. Periodic monitoring may be recommended.
Mild valve disease may need only monitoring. Regular echocardiograms track progression. Many people live for years with mild valve problems.
Significant valve disease may require medication to manage symptoms or surgery to repair or replace valves. Treatment decisions depend on severity, symptoms, and overall health.
Getting Heart Murmur Evaluation
All Seniors Foundation encourages evaluation of heart murmurs to determine their significance. Understanding your heart health enables informed decisions. Contact us if you have questions about heart murmurs or cardiac symptoms.
