At an upcoming “Ask the Doc” program sponsored by the St. Francis Heart Center on Tuesday, March 13, at the St. Francis Heart Center, 8111 S. Emerson Ave. Cardiothoracic surgeon Marc Gerdisch, M.D., will explain why it is important to understand how heart valves cause murmurs and when it’s time to seek treatment.
Valves inside the heart that do not open or close properly cause heart murmurs. People can live with heart murmurs a long time without any symptoms. In fact, the heart can suffer considerable damage from heart valve disease, before symptoms become noticeable. Heart failure may result from longstanding or sudden onset of valve disease.
“A heart murmur does not necessarily signal a problem,” said Gerdisch. “Many murmurs are harmless. However, their relationship to the heart valves needs to be understood and frequently, they require follow-up to ensure that the heart continues to function normally.”
“Imaging the heart with sound waves, allows us to monitor the impact of valve disease on the heart and therefore treat it at the right time,” Gerdisch said. “There has been considerable innovation in heart valve treatment, including our ability to repair valves instead of replace them.”
The free, hour-long program starts at 6:30 p.m. at Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center, entrance #1. To register, call 317-782-4422.
