Close
My Chart
In this section
View All View All
Dismiss Modal
Close

Find a Doctor

View All
Cardiology OBGYN Oncology Orthopedic Surgery Primary Care TeleHealth

Locations

View All
Emergency Care Urgent Care Hospital Primary Care Office Medical Center

Heart Murmur

Have questions or need help?

Call a Crestner Care Expert today for answers or help with topics like scheduling an appointment, finding a provider or exploring our events calendar.

Call 555-555-5555

Normally, your doctor hears a “lub-dub” sound when listening to your heartbeat with a stethoscope. A heart murmur is an extra sound in the “lub-dub” of your heartbeat. In some cases, the murmur is harmless. These are “innocent” heart murmurs. Other times, a murmur is a telltale sign of a mechanical problem with the way blood flows through the heart.

Related symptoms 

  • Innocent heart murmurs may not have any related symptoms. However, additional symptoms may accompany an abnormal murmur. Other symptoms that may occur along with an abnormal heart murmur include: 
  • Bluish skin and lips
  • Chest pain
  • Chronic cough
  • Dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting
  • Fatigue
  • Shortness of breath
  • Swelling or unexplained weight gain

Call 911 if you have symptoms of a heart problem. This includes chest pain, cold sweats, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, and pain or discomfort in the arms, shoulders, back, neck or jaw.

Causes of heart murmur

The sounds of a heart murmur vary in their loudness and duration. They can also occur at different times during the heartbeat. Doctors grade heart murmurs using this information. Low-grade murmurs that are short and quiet are more likely to be harmless. Innocent heart murmurs can be temporary from conditions that increase blood flow. Examples include pregnancy, fever, and rapid growth spurts. 

An abnormal heart murmur can be a symptom of:

  • Congenital heart disease, including septal wall and valve defects present at birth
  • Heart valve disease, which is the most common cause of abnormal heart murmurs
  • Endocarditis, which is an infection of the moist lining which surrounds the heart
  • Rheumatic fever, a complication of strep throat, can damage the heart in various ways

If your doctor hears a heart murmur, you will probably need other tests to find out if it is abnormal. Tests can include an electrocardiogram (EKG), echocardiogram, chest X-ray, and possibly cardiac catheterization. After diagnosing the underlying problem, you and your doctor can plan the most appropriate treatment or next steps. Your doctor may advise heart surgery to correct the problem causing the heart murmur and related symptoms.