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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffIf you think you or your child has a heart murmur, make an appointment to see your family doctor. Although most heart murmurs are harmless, it's a good idea to rule out any underlying heart problems that could be serious.
Because appointments can be brief, and because there's often a lot of ground to cover, it's a good idea to be prepared for your appointment. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment and what to expect from your doctor.
What you can do
- Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there are any advance preparations. For example, if you're having an echocardiogram, you may need to fast for several hours before your appointment.
- Write down any symptoms you or your child is experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to heart murmurs.
- Write down key personal information, including a family history of heart murmurs, heart rhythm problems, heart defects, coronary artery disease, genetic disorders, stroke, high blood pressure or diabetes, and any major stresses or recent life changes.
- Make a list of all medications, as well as any vitamins or supplements, that you or your child is taking.
- Take a family member or friend along, if possible. Sometimes it can be difficult to soak up all the information provided to you during an appointment. Someone who comes along with you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
- Be prepared to discuss diet and exercise habits. If you or your child doesn't already follow a diet or exercise routine, be ready to talk to your doctor about any challenges you might face in getting started.
- Write down questions to ask the doctor.
Your time with the doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions will help you make the most of your time together. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For heart murmurs, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
- What is likely causing the heart murmur?
- What are other possible causes for the heart murmur?
- What kinds of tests are necessary?
- What is the best course of treatment or follow-up?
- What are the alternatives to the primary approach that you're suggesting?
- How should health conditions other than the heart murmur be managed?
- Are there any restrictions that I need to follow?
- Should I see a specialist?
- If surgery is necessary, which surgeon do you recommend?
- Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing?
- Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What Web sites do you recommend visiting?
In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment.
What to expect from the doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to spend more time on. Your doctor may ask:
- When did you or your child first have symptoms?
- Have the symptoms been continuous or occasional?
- How severe are the symptoms?
- What, if anything, seems to improve the symptoms?
- What, if anything, appears to worsen the symptoms?
- Heart murmur. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/heartmurmur/hmurmur_all.html. Accessed March 1, 2010.
- Heart murmurs. Nemours Foundation. http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/heart/heart_murmurs.html. Accessed March 1, 2010.
- Holes in the heart. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/holes/holes_all.html. Accessed March 9, 2010.
- O'Rourke RA, et al. The history, physical examination and cardiac auscultation. In: Furster V, et al. Hurst's The Heart. 12th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3057807. Accessed March 1, 2010.
- Koo S, et al. Cardiovascular signs and symptoms in evaluating cardiac murmurs in children. Pediatrics International. 2008;50:145.
- Wilson W, et al. Prevention of infective endocarditis: Guidelines from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2007;116:1736.
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