What does a heart murmur indicate?

A heart murmur is an extra noise heard during a heartbeat. The noise is caused when blood does not flow smoothly through the heart. Heart murmurs can be innocent (harmless) or abnormal (caused by a heart problem). Some causes are fever, anemia, or heart valve disease.

What is the most common cause of a heart murmur?

In adults, abnormal murmurs are most often due to acquired heart valve problems. In children, abnormal murmurs are usually caused by structural problems of the heart (congenital heart defects). Common congenital defects that cause heart murmurs include: Holes in the heart.

When should I be concerned about a heart murmur?

If you have been told you have a heart murmur and you think you have symptoms of heart valve disease, you should: Talk to your doctor and ask if you should see a cardiologist, especially if you've had shortness of breath, palpitations or chest pain. See a cardiologist.

What does it mean if you have a heart murmur?

The "murmur" is the sound of blood flowing. It may be passing through an abnormal heart valve, for instance. Or it may be that a condition makes your heart beat faster and forces your heart to handle more blood quicker than normal.

Is heart murmur life threatening?

Many heart murmurs aren't life-threatening and don't need treatment. But other heart murmurs do need treatment because they're a sign of an underlying problem with your heart. It's important to remember that if you've been diagnosed with a heart murmur, that doesn't mean you'll always have it.

Can a heart murmur cause a stroke?

Abnormal heart murmurs themselves don't cause complications, but underlying conditions may cause serious complications such as heart attack or stroke, heart failure, poor growth (in infants and children) and other serious issues.

What do heart murmurs feel like?

It's important to know what a heart murmur is and what it feels like. A typical heart murmur sounds like a whooshing noise. According to the American Heart Association, it usually feels like a very subtle extra pulse. Heart murmurs are common, especially among young children.

Do heart murmurs go away?

An innocent heart murmur generally doesn't require treatment because the heart is normal. If an innocent murmur is caused by an illness, such as fever or an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), the murmur will go away once that condition is treated.

Does a heart murmur make you tired?

People with an abnormal heart murmur may have symptoms of the problem causing the murmur. Symptoms can include: Feeling weak or tired. Shortness of breath, especially with exercise.

Can you live a normal life with a heart murmur?

Living with a heart murmur

If you or your child has an innocent heart murmur, you can live a completely normal life. It will not cause you any problems and is not a sign of an issue with your heart. If you have a murmur along with any of the following symptoms, see your doctor: You are very tired.

What are two possible causes for heart murmurs?

Causes

• Flow murmurs: Exercise, pregnancy, and anemia can all cause a high blood flow, as can hyperthyroidism, fever, and rapid growth spurts. ...
• Valve disease-related murmurs: Problems with a valve in the heart, such as aortic stenosis or a bicuspid aortic valve, can lead to a heart murmur.

What causes heart murmur in older adults?

Older adults: Abnormal murmurs are most common among adults over the age of 60. They can be caused by a heart valve problem, such as prolapse, stenosis, or regurgitation.

Can you see a heart murmur on an echocardiogram?

Your doctor will use an echocardiogram – an ultrasound of the heart – to determine if a murmur is innocent or abnormal. These murmurs are identified by several key characteristics including: Intensity: how loud the murmur is. Pitch: whether it produces a high or low frequency.

Can stress cause heart murmurs?

Stress and anxiety can cause a heart murmur that's considered a physiologic heart murmur. However, it's more likely that a heart murmur would be caused by an underlying heart condition, anemia, or hyperthyroidism.

Can a heart murmur cause chest pain?

Generally, a heart murmur does not cause symptoms. It is the underlying heart function issues that often cause people to seek medical help. Chest pain and shortness of breath should always be taken seriously and not ignored.

Can you hear a heart murmur without a stethoscope?

Grade I murmurs may not be audible to the inexperienced examiner; however, grade 6 murmurs are heard even without the stethoscope on the chest and may actually be visible. Diastolic murmurs are graded on a scale of 4. This a completely subjective grading scale.

What problems can a heart murmur cause?

Complications of an abnormal heart murmur will vary depending on the cause. Possible complications include: Heart failure, when the heart is so weak it no longer pumps blood well. Infection of the heart's valves or inner lining (infective endocarditis)

Does caffeine affect a heart murmur?

Caffeine intake is not a problem for people with heart murmurs. Physicians hear heart murmurs so often that we can forget that the term can be concerning to people who are just hearing they have one and suspect it means a serious heart problem, which it usually does not. Dr.

Is it OK to exercise with a heart murmur?

If you do have a pathological heart murmur, your doctor will let you know if you need treatment (not all require treatment), and how the condition may or may not affect your day-to-day activities, including sports participation. “In most cases, people with murmurs have no symptoms,” says Dr.

What should I avoid with a heart murmur?

Eat heart-healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, lean meats, and low-fat or non-fat dairy foods. Limit sodium, sugars, and alcohol. If your doctor recommends it, get more exercise.

Can dehydration cause heart murmur?

Anemia can cause murmurs. Dehydration can. Illness in general can. Fevers are a common cause of murmurs.

What does a cardiologist do to check a heart murmur?

If a murmur is detected, your doctor will typically order an echocardiogram, a non-invasive test that produces a detailed moving picture of the heart and its valves and gives baseline information.

Is heart murmur common?

Anyone at any age can experience a heart murmur, but they are very common in both children and in pregnant woman, for perfectly normal reasons. In children, a heart murmur can often simply mean that the child has a strong, healthy heart that is moving blood around with great force in a small body.

Can a heart murmur cause dizziness?

However, if the heart murmur is abnormal you may notice associated symptoms, including: Shortness of breath (this may be with heavy exercise, mild exercise or at rest, depending on severity) Feeling light-headed or dizzy.

What is a heart cough?

While most people associate coughing as a common symptom that accompanies lung or respiratory issues, its connection to heart failure often goes unnoticed. This is called a cardiac cough, and it often happens to those with congestive heart failure (CHF).