Heart Murmurs Explained

The heart normally makes a ‘lubb-dubb’ noise, which is the sound of the heart’s valves closing as it pushes blood in and out. A heart murmur may make a slightly different noise, such as a whooshing or swishing sound, caused by unusual blood movement in the heart. This defect may be present from birth or it can develop over time.

Most of the time, murmurs are harmless. However, occasionally heart murmurs will require follow-up tests to check for underlying conditions.

Symptoms may indicate a pre-existing problem

Many heart murmurs are asymptomatic and are likely to be innocent, but it is still important to seek care from a cardiologist. Those that are accompanied by signs or symptoms, may indicate that you have an underlying heart problem. Contact your doctor if you notice any of the following:

• Blue colored skin on fingertips and lips
• Swelling or weight gain
• Shortness of breath
• Chronic cough
• Enlarged liver
• Enlarged neck veins
• Poor appetite
• Heavy sweating
• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Fainting

See a doctor if you notice symptoms

If you think you may have a heart problem, you should see a doctor. Your doctor can tell you if your condition is harmless or whether you need further tests or treatment. An echocardiogram is the most common test to identify and monitor heart defects.

Conditions that may cause murmurs and need treatment, include:

• Cardiac shunts or a hole in the heart. The seriousness of a hole in the heart, depends on where it is located. This may cause a cardiac shunt, where there is an irregular blood flow between heart chambers or vessels.
• Heart valve abnormality. Valve abnormalities are normally present at birth. Flaws in valve structure may cause the heart valves to not open properly, decreasing blood flow, or they may not close properly and leak.

Other conditions that may cause the heart to pump blood abnormally include infections such as endocarditis or rheumatic fever, and valve calcification, which is a hardening of the heart valves.