Heart MurmurThe questions below were raised by visitors to the STOMP (Straits Times Online Mobile Print) website in the AskST section of the website. eMenders doctors provided the answers to the questions raised as a public health education project. The information provided below is of a general nature and should not be treated as a replacement for medical advice. You should seek consultation from a medical or healthcare professional about your specific medical condition.
Question:
I'm a 29 year old female. I don't exercise. I was diagnosed with having mild heart murmur 2 years ago and I also have low blood pressure. Is there any cause for concern that my heart rate is lower than normal when at rest? It's about 56 beats per min.
Answer:
It is common to have a heart murmur and if all previous investigations were normal, the murmur would be benign. No further treatment would be needed.
It is not uncommon for young healthy girls to have low blood pressure. As long as no faint/giddy spells recur, no treatment is needed. Patients with low blood pressure are commonly told to drink more fluids and not restrict their salt intake.
A heart rate of 56 BPM is also not uncommon in young healthy individuals, especially in those who exercise regularly. Unless you have symptoms such as giddy spells, however, no treatment is needed
DR. TEO WEE SIONG is a Consultant Cardiologist and Cardiac Electrophysiologist at the Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre. He is also a Senior Consultant Cardiologist, National Heart Center, a Visiting Consultant Cardiologist, National University Hospital and a Clinical Teacher, Department of Medicine, National University of Singapore