The vast majority of murmurs in the heart is not serious, and happens without any kind of disease, being called physiological or innocent, arising due to the natural turbulence of the blood as it passes through the heart.
This type of breath is very common in infants and children, and it happens because the structures of the heart are still developing and may be disproportionate, so most disappear over the years, with growth.
However, when the heart murmur is accompanied by some symptoms, such as shortness of breath, difficulty in eating, palpitations or purplish mouth and hands, it may be caused by some disease, and in such cases it is necessary to consult a cardiologist for investigate the cause, through exams such as echocardiography, and start treatment. These cases can sometimes only be identified in adulthood when doing routine exams, for example.
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Degrees of cardiac murmur
There are 6 main types of heart murmur, which vary according to their intensity:
- Grade 1: very silent murmur that can be heard slightly by the doctor when doing the auscultation;
- Grade 2: is easily identified when auscultating on a particular site;
- Grade 3: is a moderately loud blow;
- Grade 4: loud blast that can be heard with the stethoscope in a large area;
- Grade 5: high murmur that is associated with the sensation of vibration in the heart region;
- Grade 6: Can be heard with the ear slightly against the chest.
Generally, the greater the intensity and degree of the murmur, the greater the chances of a heart problem. In these cases, your doctor may order several tests to check your heart and check for any changes that require treatment.
Main causes of blowing
Possible causes of a heart murmur include physiological or innocent changes, in which there is no disease and which may disappear over time, especially in children; or d congenital heart effects, in which the heart does not develop properly, defects in their valves or muscles, such as Down syndrome, congenital rubella or alcoholism by the mother, for example.
Other examples of congenital disease are patent ductus arteriosus, mitral valve prolapse, valve stenosis, atrial septal defect, atrioventricular septal defect, and tetralogy of Fallot.
In premature babies, cases of cardiac murmur may also arise, as the child may be born without the full development of the heart. In these cases, treatment is also done depending on the type of change and the child's symptoms.
When treatment is needed
In cases of innocent murmur, no treatment is necessary, and only follow-up with the pediatrician, as directed by him.
However, when the heart murmur is caused by heart disease, it is necessary to start treatment, which varies according to its cause, and is guided by the cardiologist. So, some of the options are:
- Use of medicines : Some medicines are used to treat certain heart defects, such as ibuprofen used to treat persistent ductus arteriosus, or other types of diuretics, such as furosemide, and antihypertensives such as propranolol and enalapril. treat and control symptoms of heart failure, for example;
- Surgery : may be indicated to treat more severe cases of heart defects, which do not improve with the initial treatment or are more severe. So the possibilities are:
- Correction of the balloon valve, made with the introduction of a catheter and insufflation of a balloon, being better indicated for cases of narrowing of valves;
- Correction by surgery, done with the opening of the chest and the heart to correct the defect in the valve, in the muscle or change the defective valve.
The recovery of the surgery is usually easy and fast, requiring only a period of hospital stay of a few days, until discharge home, after the pediatrician or cardiologist has been released.
Rehabilitation with physiotherapy may be necessary, as well as a return to the doctor for reassessment. Know better when heart surgery is indicated.
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