Heart murmur from birth?

[Danny_manchester]

Hi, i am a 16 year old student, who is looking for a career in aviation. However, i have had a minor heart murmer from birth, which will not require surgery atall, i was wondering since i have had no problems since it was diagnosed at birth, will this affect me obtaining a Class 1 certificate?

i would really appreciate some help here.

thanks again people!

[haughtney1]

Dont Frett to much Danny, as you know a Murmur is basically just an extra sound. I had one diagnosed at my last medical (stress induced at the examination) The CAA are very very good, they will give you a good idea of whether or not it will affect a class 1 initial. Talk to your GP, get the info, and forward it to the CAA for consideration.
Unless it is relatively serious, you should be fine

Hope this helps


Cheers

H

[wingman863]

Whether or not its the same thing, I dont know but when going for a class 2 a few years ago I was told that I have "Incomplete Right Bundle Branch Blockage," (atleast I think thats what it was called). The AME forwarded the results to the CAA who said that it would cause no problem if I ever went to get a Class 1. What heart murmur actually means I don't know but if its the same thing I was diagnosed with, the above might be of some help.

Best of luck.

[Danny_manchester]

:)_

Hey guys, i know that you have just given advice/opinion, but i feel great that i have not had hundreds of replies saying that i wont get a class 1 . I did look to go into medicine, basicaly a murmer i was told is just a lazy valve which makes a noise, but as i say i have had no problems whatsoever, so am going to book a class 1 and see what happens

I really appreciate your time and thoughts guys

thanks again

Dan

[Seaton Approach]

Know where you're coming from Dan,

But don't fret - all will be fine. Went through the same thing when I was 16 initially - the RAF bods discovered my heart murmur whilst down at OASC Biggin Hill.

Anyway, when I went for my CAA Class 1 a couple of years later, they recommended I got a cardiologist report beforehand, which I did, and the murmer was deemed to be no problem... And I was duly issued my Class 1!

Cheers,
SA!

[Danny_manchester]

Thanks seaton!!!!! its not looking as bad as i thought afterall

[DX Wombat]

Cardiac murmurs are not all sinister and as you seem to have had no problem so far this may well prove to be so in your case. If you are at all botheed why not ask for an appointment to see your old Cardiologist and discuss the matter with him / her - after all, that's the person most familiar with your problem.

[Professor Plum]

As most people have already said, I shouldnt worry too much. I went for an RAF medical a few years back, and the Doc said I had a heart murmer. He explained that they're often nothing to worry about. I had a few more tests, and nothing was wrong with my ticker, and I've had no problems since.

I already had a class 1 medical at this point.

Having said that, without wanting to worry you, there is a slight chance that something may be wrong, so just in case, the best thing to do is have a word with your Doc, and speak to the CAA Doctors at Gatwick in order to get a professional medical opininon (instead on one from a Pilot!)

Number for CAA is: 01293 573700.

And email for the medical section is: [email protected]

I'm sure they'll point you in the right direction etc

I know It's worrying-I've been there!

Best of Luck!

[Danny_manchester]

Thanks all you guys who have posted! I do understand that some murmers can be serious, and would probably put the breaks on a career in aviation for me, but as i was told that no further treatment would be needed, and evrything has been fine, i have my fingers crossed.

I will be arranging a class 1 medical in a few weeks anyway, so that i know for sure , thanks people, i will keep you posted!!

Dan

[slim_slag]

The only reason more murmurs aren't found in totally healthy people is because most senior doctors are too deaf to hear them, and junior ones don't know what they are listening to Have you ever had an echocardiogram? If not and you go for a CAA class 1 the chances are you soon will. That will tell the docs what is going on, and if you are otherwise healthy it's extremely likely that you don't have anything to worry about.

[Flyin'Dutch']

Slimslag is right on the money.

[Danny_manchester]

Thanks people, had a reply from a CAA examiner, i have had an ECHO before, and i can support the opinion that the juniors dont know whats happening, as last time i was in hospital, she didnt notice

thanks guys

[Professor Plum]

Excellent News then!

So I assume you'll be getting your class 1 medical soon then?

It's always good to get your class 1 medical done as early as possible as the renewals are easier to pass, and dont spend any money on flying until you get the class1!

All the best

[Horatio Leafblower]

The other side of the coin

Gidday,

Son I don't want to worry you but I was your age when a cardiology examination put me out of RAAF contention.

the GOOD news is that my bicuspid aortic valve (with mild regurgitation ejection click, aparrently) has not affected my Aviation career as a commercial pilot.

Wingman683, a RBBB is not a murmur - it is an electrical discrepancy in the cardiac tissue and can be transient. I had one show up on an ECG once, but never again, and can be merely an error in positioning the leads on your chest.

A heart murmur (in my case) was, as said above, an altered heart sound - instead of flub-dub, flub-dub, my heart says "flub-dubub, flub-dubub". I recall reading somewhere that a split second sound is the aortic valve, and a split first sound is the mitral valve.

A bicuspid aortic valve is sometimes associated with minor weaknesses in the connective tissue that forms your arteries. This is only experienced by about 5% of people with bicuspid valves, I am told.

Guess which group I am in?

The good news, again, is that these things are fixable.

Good luck and be sure to report back with your Cardio's report.