Is It A Murmur or Serious?

[athleet3]

Since I was a kid I was diagnosed with a heart murmur. Once or twice a year my heart would beat hard and fast for a few minutes. I am now 40 and healthy, but yesterday while playing softball my heart started beating hard and fast and wouldn't stop for about 30 minutes. Is this my heart murmur or something more serious?

[CCF-M.D.-CRC]

Dear athleet3,
I suspect this is more likely due to an electrical "short circuit" instead of a heart murmur.  A heart murmur is due to blood flow across the heart valves and may be benign in many cases.  Heart palpitations like you describe are usually due to a problem in the electrical system of the heart.  The first step is to make a diagnosis as to what type of arrhythmia you are having.  In your case the best test would probably be an "event recorder" .  This is a small device that can be worn around and activated when you have an episode.  If this is a typical SVT (supraventricular tachycardia) it can be treated with medication or a procedure called an ablation.  Your doctor can give you a referral to a cardiologist who can get these tests ordered for you.

[debra21784]

I would consult my physician because of the murmur and ask about an event or holter monitior to capture the cardiac rythmn

[neo2478]

I am 23 and I have had a heart murmur since birth. I also have the same feeling,that my heart is beating very fast,or I guess just irregularly. I have never had any 'severe' problems though because of my murmur. Depending I guess upon the type, mine is a small ventricular decept(spelling?),and like I said I am doing just fine. I have had an EKG and another type of test (although I can not remember the name)But the doctor inserted a long object into my throat that takes pictures of the heart from the inside.Not all that comfortable but it is more advanced than the EKG.If you haven't already maybe you should look into it.

[Sleepyzzz]

I do have a heart murmur, but my real question is in regard to having a PFO and an Atrial Septal Defect.  To make a long story short, I am wondering if my lifelong (yes!) fatigue could be attributable to these defects.  Before these defects were discovered through a TEE, I had complained to doctors for decades that I was tired.  They were never able to figure it out.  Not anemic, no thyroid problem.  


I also had paroxysmal atrial tachycardia in my twenties and have always experienced fluttering and flip-flopping sensations, as well as skipped, irregular and rapid beats.  At the time that the PFO and ASD were diagnosed,I was experiencing left-side weakness.  Was tested for TIA's, but it was decided that it was just my migraines manifesting in a new way.  

Anyway, if a relationship could be established between tiredness and the heart defects, I would be willing to undergo a procedure to close the holes.

Any opinions on the fatigue issue?