Do I have a Heart Murmur?!
Question: Do I have a Heart Murmur!?
Im 19 and for a while now my heartbeat has been irregular and speeds up slighty when standing or inhaling deeply!. I do have low blood pressure so I dont do any exercises because I get worried I might pass out!. The last couple of nights when going to bed every once in a while I would feel a weird beat in my heart!. Its not painful but uncomfortably and I dont have any shortness of breath, Im not overweight or have any other kind of pain!. This usually happens when Im relaxed because I dont feel this during the day when Im up and about!. I was just wondering what this might be and whats the worst case scenario with symptoms like these!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
Hello,
It's perfectly normal for the heart to change speed slightly as you breathe!. It happens because when you breathe in, this sucks air into the lungs, - - of course, - - but it also 'sucks' extra blood into the chest, which the heart then has to deal with (by speeding up slightly)!.
I don't call a heart beat 'irregular' unless you can't keep time with your pulse or heartbeat by tapping your feet, - - try it!?
An extra heartbeat 'every once in a while' is likely to be what's called an 'extra-systole' (pronounced extra- SISS'' - toe- lee)!.
There's most scope for one, when the heart is going slowly, (like when you're in bed)!. During the day your heart is beating faster, so an extra beat would get caught up into the faster rhythm!.
The only way to *prove* that you have a normal heart rhythm and occasional extra-systoles, is for you to have an electrical heart test, an 'ECG!.'
The worst case scenario is that you might have an over-active thyroid gland, which occasionally causes trouble like this!. You would need a blood-test to check this one out!.
A heart murmur is a quite different thing, it's an extra noise that you can hear with a stethoscope as the heart beats!. There are two normal heart sounds which everyone has, called the first and second heart sounds, - - like this: lub-dup, lub-dup, lub-dup!. If there's an extra swooshing sound, it is called a murmur and may be coming from one of the 4 heart valves!. Like, lub-swoosh-dup, lub-swoosh-dup!.
You don't say what your blood pressure actually is, but it's normal for someone who is physically fit to have a low-ish blood pressure!. Your blood pressure should normally rise as you start to do exercise, - - there may well be no real likelihood of your passing out!. You may be restricting yourself unnecessarily!.
Hope this is of some help!.
Best wishes, Belliger (retired gp)Www@Answer-Health@Com
It's perfectly normal for the heart to change speed slightly as you breathe!. It happens because when you breathe in, this sucks air into the lungs, - - of course, - - but it also 'sucks' extra blood into the chest, which the heart then has to deal with (by speeding up slightly)!.
I don't call a heart beat 'irregular' unless you can't keep time with your pulse or heartbeat by tapping your feet, - - try it!?
An extra heartbeat 'every once in a while' is likely to be what's called an 'extra-systole' (pronounced extra- SISS'' - toe- lee)!.
There's most scope for one, when the heart is going slowly, (like when you're in bed)!. During the day your heart is beating faster, so an extra beat would get caught up into the faster rhythm!.
The only way to *prove* that you have a normal heart rhythm and occasional extra-systoles, is for you to have an electrical heart test, an 'ECG!.'
The worst case scenario is that you might have an over-active thyroid gland, which occasionally causes trouble like this!. You would need a blood-test to check this one out!.
A heart murmur is a quite different thing, it's an extra noise that you can hear with a stethoscope as the heart beats!. There are two normal heart sounds which everyone has, called the first and second heart sounds, - - like this: lub-dup, lub-dup, lub-dup!. If there's an extra swooshing sound, it is called a murmur and may be coming from one of the 4 heart valves!. Like, lub-swoosh-dup, lub-swoosh-dup!.
You don't say what your blood pressure actually is, but it's normal for someone who is physically fit to have a low-ish blood pressure!. Your blood pressure should normally rise as you start to do exercise, - - there may well be no real likelihood of your passing out!. You may be restricting yourself unnecessarily!.
Hope this is of some help!.
Best wishes, Belliger (retired gp)Www@Answer-Health@Com
what you discribe is subjective feeling of heart beat so it is palpitation,or it could be an ectopic beat usually it is benign and could happen to every one specially if heavy smoker,heavy drinker or anoxiuos person!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
If you have any concerns about your heart then please go and see a doctor asap! I'm not a doctor so I have no idea what is wrong with you, but I know that having an irregular heart beat is dangerous!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
The only way to know if you have a heart murmur is to have it checked by a doctor!. Most people are not able to feel the murmur, the doctor has to hear it or see it on a monitor!. I just started being told that I have a heart murmur when my whole life I never did!. It can appear at anytime and remember that for the most part it's not dangerous to your health!. Next time you see a doctor ask her/him to take a listen!. In the meantime don't worry so much unless you're having other heart related symptoms!. See a doctor if just to put your mind at ease!. Peace!. TerriKWww@Answer-Health@Com