Heart Murmurs - What Are They?
During a physical exam, your doctor listens to your heart with a stethoscope. To hear the sounds of your heart valves, your doctor typically listens to your heart at different places on your chest and back.
Normally, the heart beat has two sounds commonly known as a "lub-dub". The first sound is heard as the mitral and tricuspid valves close. The second heart sound is the aortic and pulmonic valves snapping shut.
A heart murmur is a swishing sound heard when there is turbulent or abnormal blood flow across the heart valve. Heart valve disease is the most common cause of a heart murmur. The most common forms of heart valve disease which create heart murmurs are:
- Valve stenosis – a narrow, tight, stiff valve, limiting forward flow of blood.
- Valve regurgitation – a valve that does not close completely, allowing backward flow (a "leaky" valve)
Other causes of heart murmurs include hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and septal defect. Murmurs can also be caused by increased blood flow across the valve related to other medical conditions without heart disease, such as anemia and hyperthyroidism. Bicuspid Heart Valves And Heart Murmurs
Bicuspid aortic valve disease is a congenital valve disease that affects the aortic valve. Instead of three leaflets or cusps, the bicuspid aortic valve has only two leaflets. Without the third leaflet, the valve may suffer from stenosis and/or leakage.
 My Story With Heart Murmurs And A Bicuspid Aortic Valve?
So you know, I was born with a bicuspid aortic valve that resulted in a heart murmur. I was diagnosed at the age of five with this congenital condition. I experienced relatively minor problems with my bicuspid aortic valve throughout my life.
Then, a few years ago, I was diagnosed with severe heart valve disease and an enlarged heart. Eight weeks later, I was having double heart valve replacement surgery as a result of my heart murmur and bicuspid aortic valve.
Needless to say, it's been quite a journey. Recovery from heart valve surgery can be quite challenging. If you have any questions, feel free to email me, spend time at my blog or read my book.
>Next: To learn more about the treatment of heart murmurs and bicuspid aortic valves with valvular disease, please click here.
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