Will EKG show a heart murmur?

Will a heart murmur show up on an EKG?

I have long wondered whether a heart murmur is responsible for the clicking/popping/dripping noise, in time to my pulse, that I sometimes hear when reclining.

I was told ten years ago that I had a slight murmur (doc just heard it during routine exam). The clicking started several years later. It is sometimes quite loud, sometimes does a double sound (click-swoosh) for one heartbeat.

I have never mentioned this to a doctor (for fear of being taken as a hypochondriac, due to other problems I've had investigated) and am not worried about it, but curious.

Would it have shown up on the routine pre-op EKG (since I was over 50) that I had three years ago?

Thanks,
Nancy T.

[Mom2four85]

I've had heart murmurs show up in physical exams for years; but haven't shown the word "murmur" on any other testing I've had such as Ekg, echo, cardiac mri, or cardiac cath.  

I think what might actually show up is the actual problem with the valve (?) that's making the noise depending on where it's originating; at least I think that's what it would be...hopefully someone with some techincal knowlege of this will know =)

[ed34]

This is actually a good question. A Murmur is basically a sound, something heard with a stethascope or Ultrasound. It's the sound of the valve opening and closing inefficiently. A valve is operated by blood pressure acting on both sides. With pressure greater on one side, the valve is held shut, with pressure greater on the other side it opens. There is nothing electrical about a valve. So I would have to say that an ECG wouldn't detect any Murmur.
However, clues from a ECG could lead a cardiologist to make conclusions regarding valves, such as relaxation times etc, which could be a whole range of problems including valves.
The best detection for Murmurs is a sound detector, such as the human ear using a stethascope or an Ultrasound scan.

[Nancy T]

Thanks so much, Ed and Mom2, for the helpful answers!

One more question, if I may--if I only hear this clicking noise when I'm reclining, and even then not all the time, will a (regular) doctor be able to hear it with a stethoscope when I'm sitting up normally on the exam table?

I'm afraid I'll tell the doc about it, he won't hear a thing, and will think I'm a hypochondriac.

Thanks,

Nancy

[curmudgen]

When you visit the doctor next time just lie down when he listens to your heart.  See if he/she hears it like you do... just a suggestion based on your last post.

[grendslori]

An EKG will not show a murmer, however it may show something else which would be the reason for the murmur in the first place. As much as I can appreciate ed's response to you, just because there is a murmur that does not mean there is always a valve inefficiency going on. Murmurs can be "Functional" which means there is nothing structurally wrong with the  heart at all, in fact all babies are born with murmurs, probably 95% of those babies have nothing structurally wrong with their hearts at all. The murmur can be heard not only due to flow through the valves, but throughout the heart itself. Different murmurs tell the doctor where the problem with the heart is, if there is a problem at all. Mention to the doctor about this 'clicking' you hear and let him be the judge if there is an issue going on. Take care

[Nancy T]

grendslori and curmudgen, thanks for the replies. I appreciate all the info!

I don't have untoward shortness of breath, and my fatigue could be from other problems, but I started to wonder if maybe a heart murmur could be involved, if perhaps it had progressed since 10 years ago and that's why I'm hearing this (sometimes quite loud) clicking in time to my pulse.

Guess I will get up my courage and go ask the doctor. Thanks again!

Nancy

[ed34]

There are many cases of a heard clicking sound with mitral valve prolapse for example. Don't feel silly in ANY way by mentioning it to your Doctor. If he doesn't know some valves make a clicking sound, then he shouldn't be treating you :)

[Nancy T]

Thanks, Ed. I did finally make an appointment, so we'll see.

Question: when you say "a heard clicking sound," do you think it unusual that the patient hears it herself? Honestly, sometimes it sounds like I swallowed a clock!!

I suppose I'm hearing it from within (via the skull, via bone conduction I guess) but it sounds like I'm hearing it like any outside sound--as if someone beside me could hear it unaided.