are heart murmurs life threatening?
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Many heart murmurs aren't life-threatening and don't need treatment. But other heart murmurs do need treatment because they're a sign of an underlying problem with your heart. It's important to remember that if you've been diagnosed with a heart murmur, that doesn't mean you'll always have it.
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Left untreated, leaky heart valves can cause serious complications, including heart failure, atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) or pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lung's vessels). The good news is that valve problems are often quite treatable.
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The risk of dying from an aortic valve replacement is around 1 to 3%, although this risk is much smaller than that of leaving severe aortic valve problems untreated. Most people who survive surgery have a life expectancy close to normal. Read more about the risks of aortic valve replacement.
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When it could be serious At the same time, you may have pressure, squeezing, heaviness or tightness in your chest, shortness of breath, nausea and sweating. If you have these, [if in the UK] call 999 immediately." Some people's description of a heart attack is that it was "like an elephant sitting on my chest".
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Causes of heart murmurs Valvular heart disease is the most common cause of a heart murmur. 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).
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sepsis, which is a severe and potentially life-threatening infection that can spread throughout your body. pericardial effusion, or fluid buildup in your pericardium.
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Heart murmurs are usually detected when your doctor listens to your heart using a stethoscope during a physical exam. To check whether the murmur is innocent or abnormal, your doctor will consider: How loud is it? This is rated on a scale from 1 to 6, with 6 being the loudest.
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IST is not a life threatening condition but it can be very debilitating. Where sinus tachycardia is identified it is important to rule out other treatable conditions before making the diagnosis of IST – it may be that there is a curable cause.
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Heart murmurs usually result from an abnormal blood flow through the heart. A heart valve that's not working correctly typically causes the murmur sound. Heart murmurs are classified as either “innocent” or “abnormal.” Innocent heart murmurs aren't dangerous and generally require no medical intervention.
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A heart murmur isn't a disease — but murmurs may indicate an underlying heart problem. Often, heart murmurs are harmless (innocent) and don't need treatment. Some heart murmurs may require follow-up tests to be sure the murmur isn't caused by a serious underlying heart condition.
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In rare cases, WPW can lead to cardiac arrest; however, most people with WPW are at low risk of this catastrophe.
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AFib is a serious diagnosis. While this condition isn't fatal in itself, it can lead to potentially life-threatening complications. Two of the most common complications of AFib are stroke and heart failure, both of which can be fatal if not managed quickly and effectively.
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['Abnormal heart sound (heart murmur) heard through a stethoscope.', 'Chest pain (angina) or tightness with activity.', 'Feeling faint or dizzy or fainting with activity.', 'Shortness of breath, especially when you have been active.']
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Although SVT is rarely life-threatening, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible if you experience symptoms of the condition. If you experience severe chest pain or breathing difficulties, or you feel very faint, call for an ambulance.
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A heart murmur is an unusual sound heard between heartbeats. Overview. Murmurs sometimes sound like a whooshing or swishing noise. Murmurs may be harmless, also called innocent, or abnormal.
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Mitral valve prolapse (MVP)—a common condition that's rarely serious—might boost heart patients' risk for sudden cardiac death (SCD), researchers reported in the BMJ journal Heart this week.
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Occasionally though, a heart murmur can be linked to a problem with the way that blood flows through the heart, or a structural problem with the heart. Even if an underlying problem is the reason for a baby's heart murmur, there is treatment available. A heart murmur very rarely proves fatal.