What is a heart murmur and how is it detected?
A heart murmur is an unusual sound in your heartbeat that doctors can hear using a stethoscope. It happens when blood isn't flowing smoothly through your heart - instead of traveling in a straight line, the blood crashes against the heart walls and creates extra sounds beyond Show Full Answer
What is a heart murmur and how is it detected?
A heart murmur is an unusual sound in your heartbeat that doctors can hear using a stethoscope. It happens when blood isn't flowing smoothly through your heart - instead of traveling in a straight line, the blood crashes against the heart walls and creates extra sounds beyond the normal "lub-dub" heartbeat. Heart murmurs can be a sign of underlying heart valve problems, particularly with the mitral valve which controls blood flow between chambers on the left side of your heart. While some heart murmurs may not cause any symptoms, others can be associated with:
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Irregular heartbeat
If a severe heart valve issue is causing the murmur, your doctor might recommend surgery or valve replacement. Always have unusual heart sounds evaluated by a healthcare provider to determine the cause and appropriate treatment.
June 13, 2025
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