A heartbeat occurs when the heart valve opens and shuts to let blood pass into the different chambers. In addition to innocent murmurs, there are three types of abnormal murmurs, each occurring at a different stage of the heartbeat cycle. These are:
• Systolic (occurs as the heart muscle contracts between beats);
• Diastolic (occurs as the heart muscle relaxes between beats); and
• Continuous (occurs throughout the heartbeat cycle).
4. Treatment of noninnocent heart murmurs depends on the underlying problem and varies widely.
Surgery may be needed to patch a hole, fix or replace a valve, or rebuild or widen a vessel. Drugs may help reduce the heart's extra workload caused by the murmur or help prevent blood clots. Antibiotics may be required before a medical or dental procedure to lower the risk of blood-borne bacterial infections that are caused by roughened tissues that trap bacteria to the heart’s walls. If, on the other hand, there are no symptoms (chest pains, heart palpitations or breathlessness), your condition may only need monitoring.
Signs of an abnormal murmur in your child
Does your infant show any of these symptoms? If so, check with your doctor to see if your child has a heart murmur.
• Feeding intolerance (diarrhea, blood in the stools, vomiting)
• Failure to thrive (inability to gain weight)
• Respiratory symptoms (coughing)
• Bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes (caused by cyanosis, a lack of oxygen in the blood)
Additonal signs to look for in older children:
(over the age of seven):
• Chest pain
• Difficulty breathing during exercise
• Temporary loss of consciousness (fainting, also called "syncope")
See the doctor if:
• There is a family history of heart disease, abnormal cardiac function or of sudden death at a young age.
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Read more:
• 7 foods that are good for your heart
• Treating heart-related illnesses
• Should my child go on a diet?
