I have been told that i have a heart murmur, it is really stressing me,cant function mentally, kindly advise?

I have been to a doc abt two yrs ago & was told that i have a heart murmur, this is stressing me out as i was very cautious as to what i have to eat and excercise a lot previously. I was told by the doc that one of my valves is not functioning properly and it could be genetical or thr. rheumatic fever however i didn't have rheumatic fever. i did however gym a lot, could this have caused it ? I want to know what are my restrictions, such as can i still spearfish, gym and push my body, i find that i get tired walking up a flight of stairs or sometimes just talking, i have been told that i am breathing quite heavy on the other end of the phone however to me, my breathing is normal...this really getting me worked up,i just getting into a relationship and i don't how tell the person about my condition as i don't know what to tell her, i am scared abt visiting the doc. I am 34 years old, weigh 87kgs & feel a bit over weight. Pls advise on diet, treatment,etc ..can streiods assist in healing?

It sounds like the first thing you need to do is to see a cardiologist who can do a thorough workup and answer your questions about how or if you need to modify your activities. Do not take steroids. Losing a bit of weight couldn't hurt. The exact cause of your problem isn't important and is probably not due to anything you did. You may be making much more of an issue over this than you should. Stress could be contributing as much to your symptoms as does the heart murmur. Get clear information from your doctor so you can take charge of your own health and live your life fully. Your fears are more of a problem than your heart. People live full lives with much greater problems than a heart murmur. See an expert, get informed, and stop worrying.

Chill.
I had a heart murmur. It's gone now.
I had a heart attack in Feb. 06 and I'm doing okay now. The angiogram showed that all my valves were good and strong.
Get your weight down, watch your cholesterol level and don't think about it. You can't change it...some hearts have those extra noises. That's all.

Must not be to serious if you haven't been to a Dr in two years.

My husband has a heart murmur and was diagnosed with Mitral Valve Prolapse, really hasn't changed our lives much it just has to be watched to make sure it doesn't get worse. Also needs and antibiotic before any surgery or dental procedure.

Please go back and talk with your Dr.

You'll be alright. I know alot of people that have them and they live regular lives, play sports and everything.

First, stressing about it will only make your health worse.
Second, talking to your doctor will probably ease most of your fears.
Third, talking to your significant other about what is stressing you out will also probably ease your stress.
Fourth, steroids - as in illegally - will only make it worse, destroying your whole body in the process.

A person can grow out of a heart murmur, too, keep in mind. I have one and I was in the Marine Corps. I still drink caffeine. I eat what I want, but I am otherwise relatively healthy weightwise and every other way. I don't understand why you think a heart murmur is such a big issue. If you're that concerned, get a second opinion. I've never heard of anyone changing much over a heart murmur. Just eat better and exercise if you don't already.. and make sure your dentist knows, because you will have to take antibiotics before you get your teeth cleaned (ask him to explain why to you).

It's no big deal.

Calm down. A heart murmur is not that big a deal. Millions of people have it.

You need to talk to your doctor about these questions you have. Only the doctor can answer them.

I've known tons of people with heart murmurs. For the most part, they don't worry about it. You're probably breathing heavy because you're freaking out about your heart, and freaking out about it is going to make your situation worse. Stress can cause symptoms you can mistake for real illnesses. Excercise is NEVER bad for you. It strengthens your body and keeps it in good condition. Steroids, unless prescribed by your doctor for a good reason, are exactly the opposite. Notice Arnold Schwartzeneger had some valves replaced because of that stuff. Chill, man. Just keep exercising, make sure you eat healthy, and don't stress yourself.

I don't know much about this... but if you have a valve that's not functioning properly then you're probably getting tired quickly and breathing heavily because your blood isn't circulating a fast as normal. I would think moderate exercise and healthy eating would only help the problem, can't hurt it. If you get tired quickly I wouldn't put too much pressure on yourself to do strenuous activities... if you want to do them however, pace yourself. And I'm sure the stress over worrying about this isn't helping either. Talking to a doctor about this can only help you gain more knowledge about what's going on inside you and how to deal with it. Your doctor should thoroughly explain things to you, if he doesn't then ask every question you have! He should also be able to suggest possible treatments, as well as exercise and diet tips.

Since it has been 2 years since your visit to the cardiologist you should go back for another consultation. This should be something you do yearly and may include an echocardiogram to see if the murmur is stable or getting worse. Talk to the doctor about diet and exercise specific to your condition. Your doctor might suggest nonstrenous exercise like walking, or maybe you can join a gym and consider yoga. Don't pursue an exercise regimen without consulting a doctor first - but regular exercise can do wonders mentally as well as physically. Someday you may require valve replacement surgery, but only if the symptoms are severe.

Chill out. The murmur is no big deal. Lots of folks have one.

However, to really put your mind at ease get another opinion from a different doctor.