Murmurs are the sound effects that the blood makes near your heart as it circulates. These are like the swooshing sound of turbulent water, which only your doctor can hear with the use of a stethoscope. A normal heart causes the regular ‘lub-dub’ sound, and if there is some unusual sound, you would need medical attention.
When a person is suffering from mitral valve stenosis, it is a rumbling sound in a low pitch and is prominent when the person is in the left lateral position. The murmur is due to restriction in the blood flow, and the bacterial infection of strep throat cal also be the reason. The most common cause of the disease is rheumatic fever, and your doctor can better identify it after a series of tests.
How To Identify The Mitral Stenosis Condition?
The worst thing about mitral stenosis is that the symptoms can remain asymptomatic for years altogether. By the time the person experiences severe symptoms, the condition gets worst and can even turn life-threatening. To identify the signs on time, here are the things that you should direct your attention towards:-
- Streptococcal infections, especially in children, do not get better with a regular dose of antibiotics. It is a sign of mitral stenosis. Furthermore, the recurring infections can also be an indication that the person is suffering from the disease.
- Chronic atrial fibrillation restricts the flow of blood towards the left ventricle. If people do not take the anticoagulants, it might even lead to a stroke which is fatal.
- A palpitation that arises suddenly even when the person is comfortably sitting is a sign of restricted blood flow due to a narrow valve. It is normal to get heart palpitations while you are working out or are under stress. But an increased heart rate needs medical attention.
Other than this, children might get this condition right from the time of birth. If you see any symptoms, reach out to your doctor and get the diagnosis done.
Auscultation Of Mitral Stenosis Murmur
The things that one observes during the auscultation of mitral stenosis murmur are:-
- One can hear the loud sound which the stenotic mitral valve causes, and it ends abruptly. This sound is more audible at the apex.
- As the mitral valve stenosis become severe, the pressure on the left atrium increases, which also increases the duration of the murmur.
- There can be other murmurs that can coexist with the ones caused by mitral stenosis. These sounds can be due to the presence of aortic regurgitation or pulmonary hypertension.
To better understand the situation, your doctor will conduct a series of tests. He will perform an electrocardiogram and echocardiogram to analyze the heart rate of the person. Only after a thorough check, the doctor can suggest if replacement or repair of the valve is required. It is vital to get in touch with the best cardiologist in your area to get better treatment and a healthy heart. Do thorough research, look for the best doctor and do not ignore any warning signs.