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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Heart Murmurs and Drugs
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
Heart Murmurs and Drugs
by guitarchica, Aug 13, 2002 12:00AM
Hello,
I recently spoke on the phone with my younger brother who was just released from Juvy for drug rehab. He told me that the nurse there said he had a heart murmur. I came across this site doing research on the subject as I don't know much about it. My brother is addicted to drugs, and tests positive for them regularly. I don't know exactly what drugs he does, probably marijauna and I have heard cocaine, My question is how do these drugs come into play on a 15 year old male heart with a heart murmer? I already loose sleep at night worrying that he'll OD or get shot in a gang fight, and now his heart is acting up... I appreciate any input you can give me.
Sleepless in Seattle
I recently spoke on the phone with my younger brother who was just released from Juvy for drug rehab. He told me that the nurse there said he had a heart murmur. I came across this site doing research on the subject as I don't know much about it. My brother is addicted to drugs, and tests positive for them regularly. I don't know exactly what drugs he does, probably marijauna and I have heard cocaine, My question is how do these drugs come into play on a 15 year old male heart with a heart murmer? I already loose sleep at night worrying that he'll OD or get shot in a gang fight, and now his heart is acting up... I appreciate any input you can give me.
Sleepless in Seattle
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-M.D.-RCJ, Aug 13, 2002 12:00AM
guitarchica,
Sorry to hear about your brother's troubles. The significance of the murmur could range from minor to major. Many 15 year-old males have "functional" murmurs, which basically means that no structural heart disease exists. On the other hand, any person diagnosed with a murmur needs to be evaluated by a doctor so that the appropriate tests, if any, can be ordered. If your brother uses injection drugs (iv drugs, shooting up), then he could have potentially damaged one of his heart valves, which would certainly warrant further investigation.
Having written all that, your brothers most important medical problem by a long shot is the drug abuse. Let him know you love him and help him help himself. The murmur will wait.
Hope that helps.
Sorry to hear about your brother's troubles. The significance of the murmur could range from minor to major. Many 15 year-old males have "functional" murmurs, which basically means that no structural heart disease exists. On the other hand, any person diagnosed with a murmur needs to be evaluated by a doctor so that the appropriate tests, if any, can be ordered. If your brother uses injection drugs (iv drugs, shooting up), then he could have potentially damaged one of his heart valves, which would certainly warrant further investigation.
Having written all that, your brothers most important medical problem by a long shot is the drug abuse. Let him know you love him and help him help himself. The murmur will wait.
Hope that helps.
Is 108lbs for 5 7' too thin ? Does this have a bearing on heart tests ? Since I have had them at different weights over 7 years.