Re: Heart Murmur

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD-APS on March 26, 1999 at 17:30:42:

In Reply to: Heart Murmur posted by sk on March 24, 1999 at 09:18:01:






When I went to the doctor a few weeks ago, he says I have a slight heart murmur.  This is the first time I went to him due to insurance changes.  So, he did this little physical and noticed this.  He says it's the type that lots of people have and not to worry about it.  My question is, how come no other doctor has ever said anything to me about this?  Do lot's of people have these slight heart murmurs?  I'm a 28 year old otherwise healthy female.  Thanks




Dear sk,
There are many causes of a "slight heart murmur", and most are benign, i.e. nothing to worry about.  You deserve a little better explanation from your doctor like which valve does s/he think it involves and at what point (given no one has ever heard it on exam before) would s/he order an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) to assess the true cause of the murmur as well as it's extent.
I hope this information is useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for
general purposes only.  Only your physician can provided specific diagnoses and therapies.
Feel free to write back with further questions. Good luck!
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please
call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at
www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the
cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your
cardiac problem.