Heart Murmur
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What Is a Heart Murmur?
A heart murmur is an extra or unusual sound heard when blood flows through the heart. It is not a diagnosis on its own, and may be harmless, or may indicate an underlying heart condition.
Some heart murmurs are called “innocent” and do not require treatment. Others may be related to changes in the heart’s structure or function and may need further evaluation.
Innocent vs. Abnormal Heart Murmurs
- Innocent heart murmur: Not caused by heart disease. Common in children and often goes away over time.
- Abnormal heart murmur: May be linked to a heart condition, such as a valve problem or a congenital (present at birth) heart condition.
Types of Heart Murmurs
- Systolic murmurs occur during a heart muscle contraction.
- Ejection murmurs happen during forward blood flow.
- Regurgitant murmurs happen during backward blood flow.
- Diastolic murmurs occur when the heart muscle relaxes between beats.
- Continuous murmurs occur throughout the cardiac cycle.
What Are the Symptoms of a Heart Murmur?
Heart murmurs don’t often cause symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they may be related to an underlying condition, and may include:
- Feeling weak or tired
- Shortness of breath, especially with exercise
- Chest pain
- Fast, pounding, or skipping heartbeat
- Swollen ankles, feet, abdomen
- Feeling dizzy or faint
- Chronic cough
What Causes a Heart Murmur?
A heart murmur happens when blood does not flow smoothly through the heart.
Common causes include:
- Normal increased blood flow (such as during exercise, pregnancy, or fever)
- Anemia (low red blood cell count)
- Heart valve conditions (valves that are narrowed or leaking)
- Congenital heart conditions (heart differences present at birth, like septal defects)
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Treatments for Heart Murmur
How Is a Heart Murmur Diagnosed?
To diagnose a heart murmur, your University of Rochester Medicine provider will listen to your heart with a stethoscope. They may also order the following tests:
How is a Heart Murmur Treated?
Your URochester Medicine healthcare provider will discuss all test results, therapeutic strategies, and decisions with your referring or primary care physician to make sure you get the treatment that’s right for you.
An innocent heart murmur doesn't often need treatment unless there is a clear cause, such as anemia. In some cases, an innocent heart murmur may go away on its own.
Treatment for an abnormal heart murmur depends on the cause. If the murmur is caused by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or a septal defect, treatment may include:
- Medications, including Camzyos
- Cardiac device therapy
- Minimally invasive alcohol septal ablation
- Septal myectomy
If the murmur is caused by heart valve disease, treatment may include:
- Medicines to help ease symptoms
- Heart valve repair
- Heart valve replacement
- Other types of surgery
Our team of surgeons at Cardiac Care has extensive experience with minimally invasive procedures, which can be effective for many valve repair surgery patients.
What Sets Us Apart?
URochester Medicine Cardiac Care leads the region in the number and scope of specialized services offered. We are home to the only heart failure, heart transplant, and cardio-oncology programs in the region. These and many other specialty programs bring the very latest treatment for a wide range of cardiac care issues close to home.
As the region’s only academic medical center, we have exceptionally high standards that help ensure the best results for our patients. Our experts use state-of-the-art technology to identify heart disease and offer treatments and strategies to maximize heart health. Whether you need to control your high blood pressure or seek specialized care for an unusual heart condition, we have the expertise for you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is a Heart Murmur a Hole in the Heart?
No. A heart murmur is not the same as a hole in the heart. A heart murmur is an extra sound heard when blood flows through the heart. A “hole in the heart” (such as an atrial septal defect or ventricular septal defect) is a structural problem in the heart.
Is a Heart Murmur Dangerous?
Not always. Many heart murmurs are harmless, especially in children and young adults. Your care team will determine whether further testing is needed.
Can a Heart Murmur Go Away?
Yes. Some heart murmurs go away over time. Innocent murmurs in children often resolve as they grow, and murmurs caused by temporary conditions (like fever or anemia) may also improve when the condition resolves.