Heart Murmur What Is: An Evidence-Based Guide for Patients

A heart murmur is an extra sound heard during a heartbeat, usually identified with a stethoscope. Some murmurs are harmless, while others may point to a heart valve problem or another condition that should be checked by a doctor.

Heart murmur: what is it?

A heart murmur is an extra or unusual sound heard between the normal “lub-dub” sounds of the heartbeat. It is created by blood moving through the heart or nearby blood vessels in a way that produces turbulence. In many people, this sound is harmless and does not mean there is heart disease.

When people ask, “heart murmur what is,” the simplest answer is that it is a finding on examination rather than a diagnosis by itself. A murmur may be innocent, especially in children, adolescents, pregnant women, or during times when blood flows more quickly through the heart. In other cases, it may suggest a structural issue such as a heart valve problem or a congenital heart condition.

Doctors describe murmurs by when they occur in the heartbeat cycle, how loud they are, and where they are best heard on the chest. These details help guide whether the murmur is likely to be benign or whether more testing is needed. A murmur may be found during a routine checkup even when a person feels completely well.

How a heart murmur can feel: symptoms and what may accompany it

A murmur itself usually cannot be felt. It is something a clinician hears with a stethoscope. If the murmur is innocent, there may be no symptoms at all, and the person may never notice any change in daily life.

When a murmur is related to an underlying heart problem, symptoms may come from that condition rather than from the sound itself. These symptoms can include shortness of breath, tiredness, chest discomfort, lightheadedness, fainting, heart palpitations, swelling in the legs, or reduced ability to exercise. Babies and young children with a significant heart problem may have poor feeding, sweating with feeds, slow growth, or fast breathing.

Not every symptom means the murmur is serious, but certain patterns deserve attention. Symptoms that appear with activity, worsen over time, or occur with a known history of valve disease are more likely to prompt further evaluation. Murmurs may also be found in people with related conditions such as arrhythmia or other cardiovascular disorders, although the two are not the same thing.

• Innocent murmurs: usually no symptoms
• Possible warning symptoms: shortness of breath, chest pain, fainting, palpitations
• In infants: feeding difficulty, bluish lips, poor weight gain, rapid breathing

Why heart murmurs happen: common causes and risk factors

Heart murmurs are often grouped into two broad categories: innocent and abnormal. Innocent murmurs happen when blood flows more quickly than usual through a structurally normal heart. This can occur during childhood, pregnancy, fever, anemia, or hyperthyroidism. These murmurs are common and often temporary.

Abnormal murmurs are more likely to be related to a heart condition. A common cause is a problem with one or more heart valves, such as narrowing or leakage. Examples include aortic stenosis, mitral regurgitation, and other forms of heart valve disease. Congenital heart defects present from birth can also cause murmurs, including holes in the heart wall or abnormal valve formation.

Age can influence the likely cause. In children, an innocent murmur is very common, but congenital defects must sometimes be ruled out. In older adults, murmurs more often reflect age-related changes in heart valves, including calcium buildup. A prior infection affecting the heart valves, a history of rheumatic fever, connective tissue disorders, high blood pressure, or a family history of heart conditions may also increase the chance that a murmur has a structural cause.

How doctors evaluate a heart murmur

Evaluation starts with a careful medical history and physical examination. A doctor listens to the murmur’s timing, pitch, location, and whether it changes with breathing, body position, or simple maneuvers. The clinician also asks about symptoms, exercise tolerance, past heart problems, pregnancy, medications, infections, and family history.

If the murmur appears clearly innocent, especially in a healthy child or young adult without symptoms, no immediate treatment may be needed. However, if there are concerning features, the next step is often an echocardiogram. This ultrasound test shows the heart’s chambers, valves, and blood flow and is the main tool used to determine whether the murmur is related to a structural problem.

Other tests may be used depending on the situation. These can include an electrocardiogram to check the heart’s rhythm, a chest X-ray to look at heart size or lung congestion, blood tests for anemia or thyroid disease, and exercise testing in selected cases. If a valve problem is identified, doctors may monitor it over time and, when appropriate, discuss options such as heart valve surgery or a catheter-based repair.

What treatment may involve

Treatment for a heart murmur depends entirely on the cause. Innocent murmurs do not need medicine, surgery, or activity restriction. Reassurance and routine follow-up are often enough. Many children with innocent murmurs continue all normal activities and sports unless a doctor advises otherwise for another reason.

If the murmur is caused by an underlying condition, treatment focuses on that condition. For example, anemia may improve with management of the blood disorder, and a fever-related murmur may disappear once the illness resolves. When a valve problem is present, the approach may include regular monitoring, medicines to control symptoms or blood pressure, and sometimes procedures to repair or replace the valve.

For some people, minimally invasive or surgical treatment may be recommended if the valve disease becomes severe or symptoms develop. Depending on the diagnosis, this may involve cardiac surgery or specialized follow-up in cardiology. The best plan is individualized and based on age, symptoms, imaging findings, and overall health.

Living with a heart murmur: self-care and practical prevention

A heart murmur cannot always be prevented because some causes are present from birth or develop with age. Still, heart-healthy habits can support overall cardiovascular health and reduce the risk of complications from conditions that may contribute to abnormal murmurs. These habits include regular physical activity, a balanced diet, not smoking, and managing blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes.

People who know they have a murmur should attend follow-up appointments as advised. If a doctor has diagnosed valve disease, monitoring is important even when symptoms are mild or absent. It can also help to keep a record of new symptoms such as breathlessness, palpitations, ankle swelling, or reduced exercise capacity and share these changes promptly with a clinician.

Most people with innocent murmurs do not need special precautions. Antibiotics before dental procedures are not routinely recommended for most murmurs; they are reserved for specific high-risk heart conditions based on current guidance. Near the end of the care pathway, patients seeking coordinated evaluation may benefit from centers with cardiology, imaging, and cardiac surgery teams working together. Acibadem International’s multidisciplinary specialists and JCI-accredited hospitals diagnose and treat heart conditions for international patients when advanced assessment is needed.

When to seek medical care

A newly discovered heart murmur should be discussed with a doctor, especially if it is accompanied by symptoms or if there is a personal or family history of heart disease. Many murmurs turn out to be harmless, but evaluation helps clarify whether any follow-up or treatment is needed.

Prompt medical attention is important if a person with a murmur develops chest pain, fainting, marked shortness of breath, bluish lips, sudden swelling, or rapid worsening fatigue. In infants and children, urgent assessment is needed for poor feeding, difficulty breathing, blue discoloration, unusual sleepiness, or poor growth.

Even without urgent symptoms, regular review matters when a murmur is linked to a valve abnormality or another structural heart condition. Early evaluation can guide safe activity, pregnancy planning, and long-term monitoring and can help address concerns in a calm, evidence-based way.

Frequently asked questions

Is a heart murmur the same as heart disease?

No. A heart murmur is a sound heard during the heartbeat, not a disease by itself. It can be innocent and harmless, or it can be a clue to an underlying heart condition that should be evaluated.

Can a heart murmur be harmless?

Yes, many heart murmurs are harmless and are called innocent murmurs. These are especially common in children and can also occur during pregnancy, fever, or anemia when blood flow is faster than usual.

How is a heart murmur diagnosed?

A doctor usually first notices a murmur while listening to the heart with a stethoscope. If needed, an echocardiogram is often used to see the heart's valves, chambers, and blood flow more clearly.

What symptoms can happen with an abnormal heart murmur?

Symptoms depend on the underlying cause and may include shortness of breath, tiredness, chest discomfort, fainting, palpitations, or swelling in the legs. Some people have no symptoms and learn about the murmur during a routine exam.

Does every heart murmur need treatment?

No. Innocent murmurs do not need treatment. When a murmur is caused by a valve problem or another condition, treatment is directed at that cause and may include monitoring, medicines, or a procedure.

Can adults develop a heart murmur later in life?

Yes. Adults can develop a murmur because of heart valve changes, high blood flow states such as anemia, or other medical conditions. A new murmur in adulthood should be assessed by a healthcare professional.

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor about your individual situation.