With complications ranging from minor infections to complete cardiac arrest a heart murmur is nothing to take likely. If you feel that you or your child may be at risk or you feel you may have an irregular heart beat then seeing a Cardiologist is a must. A heart murmur may present many dangers to your health and well being but there are also many treatment options.

Medication

Generally the first step in heart murmur treatment will be medications. Depending on the severity and cause of your heart murmur your doctor will more than likely start you off with some of these.

• Water Pills: Water pills or diuretics are mainly used to lower blood pressure. Having high blood pressure puts an enormous strain on your heart and water pills will help flush out any excess fluid straining your cardiovascular system. These medications in general have very few side effects when dealing with heart murmur treatment.

• Blood Clot medications: Anticoagulants or more commonly referred to as medications that treat blood clots such as Aspirin or Plavix. These pills will generally help thin your blood reducing your risk of heart attack or stroke.

• Cholesterol reducing medications: Many cardiologists believe that having high cholesterol can put unnecessary strain on the heart which in turn can worsen a heart murmur. These medications can help manage the way your body handles its cholesterol intake making most valve disorders lessen in severity.

Surgery

When it comes to heart murmur treatment surgery can be both preventative and life saving. Depending on your condition the type of surgery and recovery time varies greatly.

Because heart murmurs often show no signs or symptoms if you have a family history of heart murmurs then please be sure to talk to your doctor to find out if you are at risk today.

Dr. Seldon, a Heart Doctor and Cardiologist in New York City, offers same day appointments and all testing is done on site.  Call us at (212) 367-8000.