Whispering sounds: An exploration of origins, signs, remedies, and additional information
In the realm of cardiology, heart murmurs are a common occurrence. These are sounds produced by the movement of blood through the heart and its vessels. While some murmurs may signal potential heart issues, others are entirely normal and harmless. This article aims to shed light on physiologic heart murmurs, also known as flow murmurs or innocent murmurs.
Physiologic heart murmurs are sounds produced by normal blood flow through the heart and vessels, without any underlying structural heart disease. These murmurs are quite common, especially in children and young adults, due to relatively higher cardiac output and thinner chest walls that make the murmurs more audible.
Common causes for these flow murmurs include elevated cardiac output states such as fever, anemia, exercise, pregnancy, or hyperthyroidism. It's important to note that these murmurs occur in hearts with no structural abnormalities, unlike murmurs caused by congenital heart defects or valvular disease.
While physiologic murmurs themselves are benign, some underlying conditions producing or associated with murmurs may have risk factors like congenital heart defects, fever, and anemia. Other cardiac risk factors, not direct causes of innocent murmurs but relevant for overall cardiac health, include high blood pressure, heart attack history, coronary artery disease, smoking, and infections.
If a doctor can hear a heart murmur or suspects one is present, they may recommend further tests such as a Chest X-ray, Cardiac MRI, Electrocardiogram (EKG), Transthoracic echocardiogram, Cardiac catheterization, or Transesophageal echocardiogram.
It's crucial to distinguish physiologic from pathophysiologic murmurs, as the latter can indicate an underlying issue with the heart. If you or your child experiences persistent or abnormal murmurs, it's essential to seek medical evaluation to exclude pathological causes.
In conclusion, physiologic heart murmurs, or flow murmurs, are common and usually harmless. They are typically not a cause for concern, especially during routine medical examinations. However, if symptoms such as pale skin, increased sweating, and weakness occur, it's advisable to consult a healthcare professional.
[1] American Heart Association. (2021). What is a heart murmur? https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-disease-and-stroke-news/what-is-a-heart-murmur [2] Mayo Clinic. (2021). Heart murmur. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-murmur/symptoms-causes/syc-20355537
- Physiologic heart murmurs, also known as flow murmurs or innocent murmurs, are sounds produced by normal blood flow through the heart and vessels, without any underlying cardiovascular disease.
- These common murmurs, especially prevalent in children and young adults, are not indicative of heart issues, as they occur in hearts with no structural abnormalities.
- While further medical examination may be necessary to rule out other medical conditions associated with heart murmurs, such as fever, anemia, and congenital heart defects, the murmurs themselves are benign and usually not a cause for concern.
- Maintaining good cardiovascular health and awareness of other medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, smoking, and infections, is essential for overall health and wellness.
