Cardiac Conditions

Heart Murmur

A heart murmur is a sound, heard through the stethoscope, of abnormal blood flow through the heart. The presence of a heart murmur may mean that a heart valve is narrowed or leaking or that there is an abnormal connection in the heart (hole in the heart). Some heart murmurs occur when the heart is entirely normal (innocent murmur).

High Cholesterol

There is a link between an elevated level of cholesterol in the blood and the development of blocked or narrowed arteries in the heart (coronary heart disease). Lifestyle measures and drugs to reduce cholesterol are very important for patients who have coronary heart disease and may also be important in preventing coronary heart disease if the risk is high.

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

Blood pressure is recorded as the highest (systolic) and lowest (diastolic) pressure as the heart beats and relaxes.  Normal readings vary with activity and stress.  Despite a widespread belief to the contrary it is almost never possible to sense high blood pressure.  At rest individuals' blood pressures are different, partly from inheritance and partly from lifestyle (weight, alcohol intake, fitness etc).  Some rare illnesses can cause high blood pressure.

Since blood pressure varies during activity and stress it is sometimes difficult to distinguish true hypertension from the stress of seeing a nurse or doctor (white coat hypertension).  A continuous 24hr blood pressure monitor may be required to distinguish these.  People with high blood pressure have an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. 

Attention to fitness, weight, diet and alcohol intake may lower blood pressure; however most people need medication for complete control.  If the blood pressure is difficult to control or if hypertension occurs in young people a specialist assessment is often advised.