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Hypertension and Murmurs

Both murmurs and hypertension are potentially serious, often overtly asymptomatic conditions that affect the heart. Heart murmurs are an extra or unusual sound during a heartbeat, while hypertension is a state of high blood pressure. Both conditions range in severity from very mild to life threatening.

  1. Basics of Heart Murmurs and Hypertension

    • Normal heartbeats sound like a rhythmic "lub-DUPP" or a "lub-DUB" as the heart valves close, while heart beats with murmurs have an added "whooshing" or "swishing" sound, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

      Blood pressure is measured in terms of systolic pressure (or the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats) over diastolic pressure (or the pressure in the arteries between beats). Normal blood pressure is below 120/80 mm Hg, prehypertension is defined as 120 to 139 over 80 to 89 mm Hg and hypertension starts at 140 over 90 mm HG.

    Symptoms

    • Most patients with heart murmurs are not aware they have them and while they may experience signs of other heart problems related to the murmur, the murmur itself does not usually produce noticeable symptoms to affected individuals.

      Similarly, the majority of people with hypertension do not experience overt symptoms. When the condition first begins, and/or when it becomes advanced or life-threatening, those with hypertension may have dull headaches, dizzy spells or an abnormal frequency of nosebleeds.

    Causes

    • Heart murmurs can either be innocent (harmless) or abnormal. It is not entirely clear why heart murmurs develop, but innocent murmurs are common in healthy children and, in fact, most will develop one at some point. Abnormal murmurs in children are typically caused by congenital heart defects; in adults, they are often a result of heart valve problems, infection, disease and aging.

      The vast majority of hypertension cases--90 to 95 percent--are essential, or primary hypertension, which has no known cause. The remaining 5 to 10 percent of hypertension patients have secondary hypertension, which is the result of an underlying condition such as kidney abnormalities, adrenal gland tumors, specific congenital heart defects, certain medications, such as birth control pills, cold remedies, decongestants, over-the-counter pain relievers and some prescription drugs and illegal drugs, like cocaine and amphetamines.

    Diagnosis

    • Screening for both heart murmurs and hypertension is typically done through routine exams. A careful listen by a trained practitioner through a stethoscope will usually detect murmurs, and hypertension is identified by blood pressure checks customary at any routine exam. The Mayo Clinic advises that those age 20 and over have their blood pressure checked at least once every two years.

    Prognosis and Treatment

    • Innocent heart murmurs may resolve on their own and, if not, do not require treatment and should not affect the quality of an individual's life. Abnormal heart murmurs can be life-threatening, depending on the severity and are treated with medicines and/or surgery.

      Hypertension can also be life-threatening. However, it can generally be controlled with medications and/or lifestyle changes.

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