Systolic murmur at the apex of the heart

Systolic murmur in the heart is an acoustic manifestation provoked by a change in the nature of blood flow in the vessels. Patients diagnosed with such a deviation need to remember that it is not dangerous, but may report some problems and malfunctions in the functioning of the cardiovascular system. Such sounds have a clear amplitude, which is heard in the interval between 1 and 2 heart sounds, namely, with the contraction of the ventricles. The sound developer in this situation is a failure of blood flow near the heart valves.

Types of systolic murmur

There are two types of noise:

• functional;
• organic.

Functional noises are characterized by the following parameters:

1. They have a rather soft timbre and intensity, it is very difficult to listen to them.
2. They can also be exacerbated during strenuous exercise.
3. A characteristic feature is that they do not produce resonance with nearby organs and tissues.
4. Nothing connects them with heart rhythms, they can be caused by a sharp change in body position. In most cases, they become noticeable when the patient is in a horizontal position and his head is slightly elevated.

Children are also susceptible to the occurrence of such a deviation. Sometimes the occurrence is associated with the anatomical features of the structure of the pulmonary arteries in babies.

This is due to the fit to the anterior plane of the chest. In these cases, the changes are called pulmonary, they can be heard over the artery.

Functional murmurs may occur due to hyalinosis of the heart muscle, in this situation, a systolic murmur at the apex of the heart will be heard. Among the causes of occurrence, anemia and squeezing of blood vessels are distinguished.

Organic murmurs can be provoked by valvular or septal insufficiency of the interatrial or interventricular septum.

Their characteristics are:

1. These manifestations are dominated by a sharp, pronounced and prolonged character.
2. Sound deviations go beyond the boundaries of the cardiac zone and are given to the interscapular or axillary zone.
3. At the moments of physical exertion, the noises increase, after the completion of the events they do not disappear immediately, they can retain their expressiveness for a long time.

Organic manifestations are in close connection with the sounds of the heart.

Causes of heart murmurs

Murmurs in the heart can manifest themselves for several reasons that provoke them. Systolic murmur tends to occur due to aortic stenosis. Under this term, one can understand both congenital and life-long thinning of the aortic orifices, which occurs due to fusion of the valve leaflets. This event leads to difficulty in the flow of blood inside the cavity of the heart. A similar pathology in cardiology is referred to the most common heart defects that are diagnosed in patients of middle and older age. With this deviation, aortic insufficiency and mitral valve disease are often manifested. The disease can progress due to the fact that the aortic apparatus is prone to calcification. With this conclusion, the left ventricle is significantly loaded, then the heart muscle and brain begin to die from the insufficiency of the incoming blood.

It is aortic insufficiency that is the main cause of the formation of a heart murmur. The disease is that the valve of the heart cannot close completely.

Pathology often occurs against the background of endocarditis, which has an infectious nature, which can be provoked by:

• syphilis;
• atherosclerosis;
• rheumatism.

Mitral regurgitation is a less common but still present provocateur of systolic murmurs. In this case, the source lies in the transient movement due to the contraction of fluid and gas, which are localized in the hollow organs of the muscles. This phenomenon is pathological. Such a diagnosis develops as a result of a violation of the functions of the separating partitions.

The main symptoms of systolic heart murmurs

With physiological noise, the following symptoms may appear:

• increased fatigue of the body;
• pallor of the skin of the face;
• weakness, depression;
• tremor of the limbs;
• weight loss;
• increased irritability;
• shortness of breath after physical exertion;
• swelling of the legs;
• increased heart rate;
• dizziness;
• loss of consciousness.

Pathological noises are characterized by:

• heart rhythm disorder;
• shortness of breath that occurs not only at the time of exertion, but also at rest;
• attacks of nocturnal suffocation;
• swelling of the limbs;
• increased irritability;
• dizziness ending in loss of consciousness;
• heart pain;
• chest pain.

It is important to undergo examinations at the first symptoms, especially if the baby has alarming symptoms. Only a doctor can determine what pathological processes occur in the heart of a child.

It should be borne in mind that each type of noise can often be caused by certain features of the body, but heart murmurs cannot be non-pathological.

Diagnosis of systolic murmurs

The definition of heart disease in each case begins with the diagnosis of the presence or absence of murmurs. The examination is performed in the supine and standing position, as well as after light physical exercises. These measures are required in order to accurately identify noise, which can manifest itself for various reasons.

When determining the nature of noises, it is worth considering that they may have different phases (systole and diastole), their duration and conductivity may change.

During the study, it is necessary to limit non-cardiac murmurs that are outside the boundaries of the heart muscle. These manifestations are clearly audible with pericarditis. They can only be determined during systole.

For the study of the heart use:

• ECG;
• radiography in several projections;
• FKG;
• ECHO.

As additional methods of examination are often prescribed:

1. A complete blood count, which is necessary to determine the level of hemoglobin and leukocytes. Often with such pathologies, an increase in leukocytes is noted.
2. A biochemical study that reflects the function of organs with insufficient blood supply.
3. Analysis of the concentration of hormones in the blood.

Therapy for heart murmurs

The direction of therapy is determined based on the results of the examination by a specialist:

1. If the provoking factor is anemia, the use of iron supplements is indicated. If the cause is hidden in low hemoglobin, after a course of such therapy, the manifestation should disappear.
2. If the cause is a violation of the endocrine system, then an endocrinologist should take part in the appointment of treatment, who, with the help of therapy or surgery, will be able to correct the situation. In some cases, the pathologically enlarged part of the gland is removed.
3. If systolic murmurs are provoked by minor developmental disorders of the heart, are not accompanied by severe symptoms, special therapy is not required. Regular visits to the cardiologist (2 times a year) are shown.
4. If the pathology made itself felt during the period of bearing the baby, then it will disappear on its own after childbirth.