The causes of heart murmurs vary widely from completely benign conditions to serious cardiac issues Narrowed (stenotic) or leaky (regurgitant) valves can alter blood flow. Some heart murmurs are harmless (innocent) An innocent heart murmur is not a sign of heart disease and doesn't need treatment Other heart murmurs may be a sign of a serious heart condition Tests are needed to check the heart and heart valves
Heart murmur treatment depends on the cause. A heart murmur is a “whooshing” sound made in addition to the normal heartbeat that indicates blood flow A murmur can be heard with a stethoscope and where they land in between heartbeats as well as how loud they are can potentially indicate what type of murmur it is. Learn the difference between innocent and pathological heart murmurs, common red flags like chest pain, and when urgent medical evaluation is necessary to prevent complications from valvular defects. An innocent heart murmur won't have any effect on your life If a serious heart problem caused the murmur, treatment can prevent it from affecting your lifespan.
Heart murmurs are common and don’t necessarily indicate a health problem, especially in children However, murmurs should be evaluated because they may signal a heart problem or other health issue. A heart murmur can happen when a valve doesn’t close tightly and the blood flows backward Or, if the heart valve is stiff or narrow, the blood causes the valve to vibrate producing a murmur Murmurs also happen when there are abnormal connections between the lower heart chambers (hole in the heart), or between the major blood vessels themselves. Heart murmurs can also be innocent or abnormal
A person with an innocent heart murmur has a normal heart and does not require treatment A person with an abnormal heart murmur may need more extensive testing to determine the cause In adults, abnormal heart murmurs are mostly caused by acquired valve issues.
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