A heart murmur very rarely proves fatal. Young children have small, slim chests so their hearts are nearer to a stethoscope than those of teenagers and adults, and their heart rate is faster. Blood has to negotiate two tight bends as it flows through the heart. Innocent murmurs can sometimes come and go, becoming noisier if the heart is beating fast - after exercise or with a fever - and quieter as a child sleeps.
As the years go by, the heart rate slows and the heart grows and lies deeper within the body. The normal bends within the heart become less tight, and an innocent murmur therefore disappears. In rarer cases, a heart murmur can come from abnormal blood flow within the heart and blood vessels. This might be related to either a narrow or leaking valve, or a hole in the wall between the two chambers of the heart or between the two main arteries of the heart. There are no outward signs or symptoms of an innocent heart murmur.
A pediatric cardiologist will perform a full evaluation, which may include heart tests, such as an electrocardiogram or echocardiogram, to rule out the possibility of a problem.
Sometimes a murmur is the only symptom of structural heart disease, so a thorough evaluation is important. Depending on the heart problem, the abnormal murmurs may be associated with other symptoms such as shortness of breath, dizziness or fainting, bluish skin, or a chronic cough.
Keep in mind, heart murmurs are common in healthy children and adolescents. Edward-Elmhurst Health pediatric cardiologists specialize in diagnosing and treating heart problems in children. Browse our pediatric cardiologists. Mehmet Gulecyuz, M. If your child has heart disease, they might need some form of treatment. This can range from medication to surgery, depending on what kind of disease it is and how bad it is.
Some children just need regular check-ups with their cardiologist. Skip to content Skip to navigation. Your doctor and a pediatric cardiologist can determine if the murmur is innocent which means your child is perfectly healthy or if there is a specific heart problem. If there is a problem, the pediatric cardiologist will know how best to take care of it.
Reviewed by: Steven B. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Are Heart Murmurs? What Happens in a Heart Murmur? Who Gets Heart Murmurs? How Are Heart Murmurs Diagnosed?
What Causes Heart Murmurs? Innocent Heart Murmurs The most common type of heart murmur is called functional or innocent. Most innocent murmurs will go away on their own as a child gets older. Congenital Heart Defects Some murmurs can indicate a problem with the heart. The cardiologist will order tests such as: a chest X-ray : a picture of the heart and surrounding organs an EKG : a record of the heart's electrical activity an echocardiogram: a picture of the heart made using sound waves About 1 out of every babies is born with a structural heart problem, or congenital heart defect.
Some kids won't have any symptoms beyond a heart murmur, while others will such signs as: rapid breathing difficulty feeding blueness in the lips called cyanosis failure to thrive An older child or teen might: be very tired have trouble exercising or doing physical activity have chest pain Call your doctor if your child has any of these symptoms.
0コメント