Sinda Dianzumba

Deep breathing exercises are good for yoyr health because they open lungs to open fully and function more efficiently. It is a good habit to it throughout the day, every couple of hours, not just when you are anxious. It does not cause back pain. So stop straining your back muscles. That is not part of breathing exercise. If you don't feel relaxed afrer the exercise, then you are straining; you are not breathing. As to anxiety about your heart catherization, the procedure is safe in hands of a cardiologist who does a lot of these. By the way, having palpitations is not an indication for a heart cath. So you better sit with your cardiologist so he can fully explain why you are having a heart cath. I am sure he will do that for you. It is part of the informed consent that every patient signs prior to the procedure. It is your health. Be an active participant of your healthcare team.

It depends o n the type of the murmur. A murmur is a noise that the blood makes when it passes through a heart valve moving forward, or when the blood leaks back through a leaky valve. Usually, the examining doctor should have a pretty good idea whether the murmur is not serious or it needs further evaluation, such as a referral to a cardiologist who may make that determination with a physical examination, and if necessary, do an echocardiogram.