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Heart Murmur

staff03

New Member
Today I went to my recruiter's to fill out the 75 question thing about my medical history so I can set up a MEPS date. One of the question asked if I hade a heart murmur. I understand that a severe one is very bad for you, but I have had one since birth that wasn't even detectable by hear, they had to do an "echo" to even detect it. My recruiter told me that something like this is almost always a guaranteed no for aviation. This is probably some of the worst news I have ever heard so I was just wondering if the degree of murmur is even taken into account? I think from what my doctors have told me that mine is one of the hardest to detect and minor murmurs that you can get so does that even give me any hope at all??
 

helo_wifey

Well-Known Member
I'm not military but I had/have one that a doctor found while in college (he was listening to my neck...who knows why..), I went to see a specialist and he said minor murmurs are prevalent in athletes with good cardiovascular health. Is this true? I have no clue, but I was healthy with no previous indication of issues. And up until college I'd had physicals and whatnot and no one had heard it, and to this day that was the only person who'd heard it. I'd get a second opinion.

Good luck!
 

MSkinsATC

Registered User
pilot
Had a heart murmur when I was born, mine went away, but they were very persistent during MEPS. Just tell the truth, and see what they say.
 

VetteMuscle427

is out to lunch.
None
I had a minor murmur found during my flight physical @ OCS. Doc "thought" he heard something, I got an echo, minor murmur found. Not an issue. Now, whether that was OK because I was already in the program or not... I don't know. But it isn't a "no go" for me.
 

MasterBates

Well-Known Member
I have a "cardial branch block" that was found at MEPS that they approved that NOMI had a minor calf about at OCS.

As you can tell by the wings, I kept on truckin...

But then again, I was IN at that point.
 

A4sForever

BTDT OLD GUY
pilot
Contributor
.....One of the question asked if I had a heart murmur. I understand .....that something like this is almost always a guaranteed no for aviation. ...
Do you have a "murmur" (turbulent blood flow) or an "arrhythmia" (abnormality in the beat of the heart) ??? They are frequently used interchangeably -- and used incorrectly.

I'm no Doc, but speaking from personal experience with Docs and AME's, I developed an arrhythmia @ 33 years old (or at least that is when it was first discovered) and while it caused some consternation and hand-wringing on the part of my AME and myself, it proved to be no big deal in the long run. Mucho stress tests, a Holter monitor or two, more stress tests, more EKG's, and a safe for solo chit .

They suggested that it came about as a direct result of my regular long distance running at the time. My heart had "shifted" position and the beat showed up "different" on an EKG which set off the alarm bells.
.... but the TREND was what counted. As long as it remained "constant" after it was discovered -- no problem-o. I was informed that a "murmur" was more potentially significant than an "arrhythmia" .... but it my case, the abnormal heartbeat disappeared under the heavy excercise of a stress test.

Result: a green light and a safe for solo chit for the next 27 + years. Still counting .... :)
 

speeddypat

New Member
None
staff: i have had one all my life and just like you it is very small... I put it on all the paperwork i ever signed. MEPS didnt seem to care too much about it... I had to write a page describing that I was physically active and good to go from my standpoint. I got a waiver but it was basically just a formality, and NOMI just noted that it was a 'trace' murmur and gave me my upchit. If you don't have an echo they'll probably make you get one but it's not a big deal.

Bottom line: don't worry about it at all, just tell them it's very minor, and you'll have no problems. if you have any other questions feel free to ask.
 

feddoc

Really old guy
Contributor
Do you have a "murmur" (turbulent blood flow) or an "arrhythmia" (abnormality in the beat of the heart) ??? They are frequently used interchangeably -- and used incorrectly.

I'm no Doc, but speaking from personal experience with Docs and AME's, I developed an arrhythmia @ 33 years old (or at least that is when it was first discovered) and while it caused some consternation and hand-wringing on the part of my AME and myself, it proved to be no big deal in the long run. Mucho stress tests, a Holter monitor or two, more stress tests, more EKG's, and a safe for solo chit .

They suggested that it came about as a direct result of my regular long distance running at the time. My heart had "shifted" position and the beat showed up "different" on an EKG which set off the alarm bells.
.... but the TREND was what counted. As long as it remained "constant" after it was discovered -- no problem-o. I was informed that a "murmur" was more potentially significant than an "arrhythmia" .... but it my case, the abnormal heartbeat disappeared under the heavy excercise of a stress test.

Result: a green light and a safe for solo chit for the next 27 + years. Still counting .... :)


Did the docs say you had an axis deviation?
 

staff03

New Member
I just found out from some paperwork of an echo I had done when I was about 10 that it is a "trivial" murmur. That's about all I know...
 

Catmando

Keep your knots up.
pilot
Super Moderator
Contributor
Had a mild concussion while in college. Kept overnight in the hospital for observation. Woke up the next morning surprised to be surrounded by 12 guys in white coats all with stethoscopes. Thought I was maybe dying. But it turned out to be a med-school class there to listen to my "unique" heart murmur – something I never knew I had. And it never slowed me down nor kept me from flying since for nearly 40 years.

As was mentioned earlier, it was a murmur common in conditioned athletes and others, and not a problem. I subsequentlly flew 20 years in the Nav and 30 years in the airlines with it. Most docs miss it, but every once in awhile - including again last month - a doctor will say, "Do you know you have a heart murmur?" And I say yes. This one still had me do another echocardiogram…that as always, checked out fine.

Good luck to you.
 
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