Physiology
Heart murmurs are aberrant heart noises that can be noted when using a stethoscope. Typically, these sounds come from the abnormal motion of blood amid cardiac chambers and across valves. As a result, turbulence occurs, bringing about “vibrations in the chambers of the heart or outflow vessels (aorta or pulmonary artery) that are detected as audible, low-frequency sounds,” (Klabunde, 2016). These sounds are different from the regular heart sounds that symbolize the closing of the atrioventricular and semilunar valves amid the cardiac cycle. Murmurs are either caused by valve defects or interchamber defects, and they can be classified as systolic or diastolic murmurs. Systolic murmurs happen during ventricular contraction and diastolic during ventricular filling. Heart murmurs can occur later in life, or they can be congenital (something you are born with). Some causes of atypical heart murmurs include valve calcification, rheumatic fever, valve calcification, septal defects, cardiac shunts, and valve abnormalities.
Assessment …show more content…
Optimal patient positions for cardiac sound assessment include sitting and leaning forward, turned on left side, and lying supine. Murmurs can be heard when blood volume in the heart is raised, or the flow of blood is obstructed or changed. Systolic murmurs are audible after S1 and diastolic after S2. Sometimes thrills or palpable vibrations, are present with cardiac malformation or murmurs. Bruits, swishing or blowing sounds signify restricted peripheral blood flow. To assess for bruits, use the bell of the stethoscope and listen to the carotid arteries, iliac arteries, abdominal aorta, renal arteries, and femoral
Heart murmurs are aberrant heart noises that can be noted when using a stethoscope. Typically, these sounds come from the abnormal motion of blood amid cardiac chambers and across valves. As a result, turbulence occurs, bringing about “vibrations in the chambers of the heart or outflow vessels (aorta or pulmonary artery) that are detected as audible, low-frequency sounds,” (Klabunde, 2016). These sounds are different from the regular heart sounds that symbolize the closing of the atrioventricular and semilunar valves amid the cardiac cycle. Murmurs are either caused by valve defects or interchamber defects, and they can be classified as systolic or diastolic murmurs. Systolic murmurs happen during ventricular contraction and diastolic during ventricular filling. Heart murmurs can occur later in life, or they can be congenital (something you are born with). Some causes of atypical heart murmurs include valve calcification, rheumatic fever, valve calcification, septal defects, cardiac shunts, and valve abnormalities.
Assessment …show more content…
Optimal patient positions for cardiac sound assessment include sitting and leaning forward, turned on left side, and lying supine. Murmurs can be heard when blood volume in the heart is raised, or the flow of blood is obstructed or changed. Systolic murmurs are audible after S1 and diastolic after S2. Sometimes thrills or palpable vibrations, are present with cardiac malformation or murmurs. Bruits, swishing or blowing sounds signify restricted peripheral blood flow. To assess for bruits, use the bell of the stethoscope and listen to the carotid arteries, iliac arteries, abdominal aorta, renal arteries, and femoral