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A 56 year old patient complained that he begun to tire on ...
Sent to Health Experts October 18 05:21 PM

A 56 year old patient complained that he begun to tire on extertion and he had occasional heart palpitations. He had a persistent cough that seemed to worsen when he lay down. He did not appear to be in accute distress at the time of the examination. Listnening to his heart with a stethescope it revealed he had a heart murmur.   Why would the patient appear "normal" at rest and symptomatic only during extertion?

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October 18 7:43 PM (2 hours and 22 minutes and 36 seconds later)
         
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Hi

When the heart is already working harder because of a murmur, when there is exertion, it makes it work harder. If there is congestive heart failure, the extra fluid in the body tissues including the heart, will cause shortness of breath, and increased palpitations.

At rest, the heart doesn't have to work as hard. Neither do the lungs. So, no symptoms.

Kerry



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