Do You Think That Two Doctors Listening To Your Heart Could Miss A Heart Condition?

Question

Don't mean to sound like a Hypocondriac but I recentlty went to two doctors ,one telling me that I had an innocent murmur and telling me that I didn't need test and the other examine me as well and had the same conclusions .Its is possible for two specialist to miss a heart condtion ?Are they trained to know what to look for when examaning you? What are the odds for this to happen?

Answer 1

Doctors would normally not miss out a physiological murmur (a normal and insignificant murmur) from a pathological one. When two doctors have given you similar finding, you must start believing at least one of them. If anyone had even an iota of doubt about the nature of the murmur, surely they would have suggested certain more investigations including an echocardiogram. However, a colored echocardiogram would give you a definite answer and would be able to certainly differentiate between a normal heart and a heart with some pathology that is causing a heart murmur. Please undertake this investigation at the earliest, otherwise you are liable to land up with what is termed as ‘cardiac neurosis’. You may also like to get your hemoglobin and thyroid levels checked as anaemia (low hemeoglobin) and thyrotoxicosis (high thyroid hormone levels or the sensitivity) are leading causes besides young age, anxiety, pregnancy, fever, and other causes of hyperdynamic circulation. Already the pathologic nature of the murmur has been ruled out by the clinicians of which there are different other reasons.

Answer 2

Registered Nurse here; Well what a delima, one says you have a murmur and the other doesn't. One possible explanation is sometimes murmurs depending on the stage cannot always be heard. The other possibility is that one of the doctors were correct, which one? Well who knows. I would go to a board certified cardiologist. Now lots of doctors say they treat cardiac problems, but you have to look close at the credentials. For a board certified cardiologist will have it on there office appointment cards, be in the phone book as such. Plus once in the office credentials will be hanging on the wall. Plus ASK, for it's your body, your heart, your health. And you deserve to know. Having worked in health care for 24 years, the answer is YES 2 doctors can be wrong. I have seen as many as 7 wrong on a few patients, then the big guns advanced specialists are called in and Bingo, the right diagnosis is finally given.

Answer 3

Heart murmurs are very common, particularly in children, the aged and pregnant patients. Doctors look for certain qualilty of murmurs that differentiate between pathological (bad) murmurs and benign (ie no worries) ones. Your other symptoms (or lack thereof) will also determine need for further testing.



So most likely you can be reassured. If you are still worried, there are private clinics that will do an echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) for a fee. Its a "no risk" test, so if it makes you sleep better at night spend a few hundred bucks....

Answer 4

Cradiologist here. First of all only a few cardiac condition can be diagnosed by the stethescope. What people every day refer to as a heart condition is blockage in the arteries. That can not be diagnosed with any degree of accuracy by listening to the heart.



If you are truely concerned then go see a cardiologist. A stress test and echo along with a good history of your symptoms is enough to give an idea if other things neeed to be done.

Hope this helps

Answer 5

Physicians are human and yes not just 1 but 2 physicians may miss a problem. 30 years ago there was careful training in the art of listening to the heart but this is no longer widely taught. In addition - with the development of echocardiography even those physicians who once had 'good ears' no longer 'hear well'. If you are very concerned and if you have health insurance an echo cardiogram is easily obtained. Unfortunately - an error may be made in reading such a study but such errors are rare.

Answer 6

Murmurs are actually not all that uncommon. It is very possible to have a small murmur that has no effect whatsoever on your health. Have you been having symptoms? Always tired? Fluid in your lungs? Low urination? Swelling in your extremities?

Answer 7

Most heart conditions cannot be detected by listening to the heart, as they don't have a distinct sound. A murmur on the other hand, has a distinct sound. If you have no other symptoms I would not be concerned.