So, What Are Heart Murmurs? A heart murmur is an extra sound heard during a heartbeat when blood flows through the heart in a way that creates turbulence. Instead of the usual “lub-dub” rhythm, a doctor listening with a stethoscope hears an additional whooshing or swishing noise. Murmurs themselves are not a disease, they are

Jaw pain is not always linked to dental or muscular problems. In some cases, it can be a sign of an underlying heart condition, particularly when it occurs alongside other symptoms such as chest discomfort or breathlessness. This is because pain from the heart can travel, or “radiate”, to other areas including the jaw, neck,

An Exercise Tolerance Test in Kent is a commonly used heart test that assesses how your heart performs during physical activity. It is particularly useful for investigating symptoms such as chest discomfort, breathlessness, or palpitations that occur when you are active. In simple terms, this test shows how well your heart copes under stress. In

A silent heart attack is a heart attack that happens without the classic, severe chest pain most people expect. Instead, symptoms are often mild, vague, or mistaken for something else, which means many people do not realise it has happened at the time. Despite this, the same damage to the heart muscle still occurs, and

Aortic stenosis is a condition where the aortic valve becomes narrowed, restricting blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body. This forces the heart to work harder to pump blood through the valve. Over time, this added strain can affect heart function and lead to symptoms such as breathlessness, chest discomfort, or

Shortness of breath is a common symptom that many people experience at some point. It can happen during exercise, illness, or even periods of stress. However, when breathlessness becomes persistent, worsens over time, or occurs at rest, it may indicate an underlying heart condition. We often assess patients who are concerned about unexplained breathlessness. In

Lifestyle factors play a central role in determining your heart health. While genetics and age influence your risk of heart disease, the choices you make day to day often have the greatest impact. Diet, exercise, stress, sleep, and habits such as smoking or alcohol intake all affect how well your heart functions over time. We

Bradycardia is a medical term used to describe a heart rate that is slower than normal. In adults, this usually means a resting heart rate below 60 beats per minute. While a slow heart rate can be normal in some people, particularly those who are physically fit, it can also indicate a problem with the

Atrial flutter is a type of heart rhythm problem, also known as an arrhythmia, where the heart beats faster than normal in a regular but abnormal pattern. It affects the upper chambers of the heart, called the atria, and can lead to symptoms such as palpitations, breathlessness, and fatigue. Although atrial flutter is less common

Tachycardia is a medical term used to describe a heart rate that is faster than normal. In adults, a resting heart rate above 100 beats per minute is generally considered tachycardia. While the heart naturally beats faster during exercise or stress, tachycardia refers to an unusually rapid heartbeat that occurs without a normal reason or