heart murmur

Overview
A heart murmur is an unusual sound heard during a heartbeat, often described as a whooshing or swishing noise. It is caused by turbulent blood flow through the heart’s chambers or valves. Heart murmurs can be harmless (innocent) or indicate underlying heart problems, such as valve disorders or congenital heart defects. While many people with murmurs feel fine, some may experience symptoms depending on the cause.

Why It’s Important
Heart murmurs can be an early sign of heart valve disease, congenital heart defects, or other cardiovascular conditions. Detecting a murmur allows doctors to monitor heart function, prevent complications, and treat any underlying issues before they become severe. Even harmless murmurs should be evaluated to ensure the heart is healthy.

Quick Facts

  • Can occur in children or adults; many children have harmless murmurs that disappear with age

  • Estimated that up to 50% of children may have an innocent murmur at some point

  • Can be innocent (benign) or abnormal (pathologic)

  • Often discovered during a routine physical exam

What Happens in the Body
Heart murmurs result from disrupted blood flow within the heart. Innocent murmurs occur when blood flows rapidly through a normal heart, such as during exercise, fever, or pregnancy. Abnormal murmurs may be caused by narrowed or leaky heart valves, holes in the heart (septal defects), or other structural problems that affect circulation and increase strain on the heart.

Common Signs and Symptoms

  • Often no symptoms for innocent murmurs

  • Abnormal murmurs may cause:

    • Shortness of breath

    • Fatigue

    • Chest pain or discomfort

    • Swelling in legs, abdomen, or feet

    • Dizziness or fainting

Diagnosis

  • Auscultation (listening to the sounds of organs) with a stethoscope during a physical exam

  • Echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) to visualize valves and blood flow

  • Electrocardiogram (ECG) to assess heart rhythm

  • Chest X-ray to check heart size and lung involvement

  • Cardiology referral if murmur is abnormal

Treatment and Management

  • Innocent murmurs: Usually require no treatment and only periodic monitoring

  • Abnormal murmurs: Treatment depends on the underlying cause, which may include:

    • Medications to manage heart failure or arrhythmias

    • Surgical repair or replacement of damaged valves

    • Procedures to close septal defects or other structural issues

  • Regular follow-up with a cardiologist is often recommended

Risks and Complications

  • If untreated, abnormal murmurs can lead to:

    • Heart failure

    • Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat)

    • Stroke

    • Endocarditis (infection of the heart lining)

Who Is at Risk

  • People with congenital heart defects

  • Individuals with rheumatic fever history

  • Older adults with degenerative valve disease

  • Those with a family history of heart valve disorders

  • People with conditions that strain the heart, like hypertension

Related Conditions

  • Valve disorders: aortic stenosis, mitral regurgitation

  • Congenital heart defects: septal defects, patent ductus arteriosus

  • Heart failure

  • Endocarditis

When to See a Doctor
See a healthcare provider if you experience:

  • Shortness of breath

  • Chest pain

  • Swelling of the legs or abdomen

  • Fainting or dizziness

  • Rapid or irregular heartbeat
    Even if you have no symptoms, any newly detected murmur should be evaluated by a doctor.

Last Updated: October 2, 2025