Seattle Health Blog

How are heart murmurs?

Treatment of heart murmur depends on the cause. Functional heart murmurs usually do not need any treatment. If your heart murmur is caused by an underlying disease, such as high blood pressure, it is the disease. If your heart murmur is due to valve disease itself (intrinsic valve disease) or other heart defects, may be necessary to administer medication or perform a surgical procedure.

Lifestyle Modification

Before doctors prescribe antibiotics to patients with heart murmurs before a dental or surgical procedure to prevent infection of the heart valves. (Some of these procedures can cause bacteria to enter the bloodstream, which can lead to infection.)

Today, most doctors believe that patients with heart murmur do not need antibiotics before dental procedures or surgical, unless the breath is caused by intrinsic valve disease. If you are unsure whether you should take antibiotics before a procedure, talk to your doctor or dentist.

Drug

The doctor may prescribe certain medications, as the underlying cause of heart murmur.

- Blood thinners (anticoagulants), which can prevent blood clots that can clog blood vessels.
- Beta blockers, which help normalize the heart beat faster and flutter.
- Drugs that lower blood pressure (antihypertensives), which ease the workload of the heart.
- Antiarrhythmic drugs that control heartbeat irregularities (arrhythmias) and relieves the symptoms of heart palpitations.
- Diuretics, which reduce blood pressure by removing excess fluid and salt from the body.
- Digoxin, which strengthens the heartbeat.

Surgical procedures

In some patients, this may require surgery to correct a heart defect or correct or replace a damaged heart valve.