HEART MURMURS

General Information

DEFINITION--Heart murmurs are not a disease or illness. They involve the sounds, as heard through a stethoscope, of blood flowing through the heart. With murmurs, there is an extra sound (sometimes described as "swhishing" ) in addition to the normal sounds (described as "lub-dup" ) of the heartbeat. Most heart murmurs are harmless or "innocent" and are detected at a routine physical or well-baby examination. Murmurs are heard in many healthy people.

BODY PARTS INVOLVED--Heart.

SEX OR AGE MOST AFFECTED--All ages, both sexes; more often heard in children and teenagers.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS--People with heart murmurs have no symptoms, unless associated with other disorders.

CAUSES--The stethoscope picks up sounds made when the ventricles of the heart contract and the 4 heart valves snap shut. Most extra sounds caused by turbulent blood flow are known as murmurs. What causes innocent type heart murmurs is unknown.

RISK INCREASES WITH

• Congenital heart defects.
• Rheumatic fever.
• Myocarditis.
• Children with anemia.
• Pregnancy.

HOW TO PREVENT--There are no preventive measures.

What To Expect

DIAGNOSTIC MEASURES--

• Heart murmurs are detected by a medical professional listening to the heart sounds through a stethoscope. By listening to these sounds, a trained person can judge by their quality, intensity, location and timing that the murmur is insignificant (most cases).
• In a few cases, the sounds that are heard may indicate a need for more testing in order to determine the cause. Chest x-ray, ECG and angiography (See Glossary for both) may be done for further study.

APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE--No medical treatment is necessary for an innocent heart murmur.

POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS

• None expected with innocent heart murmurs.
• If there is any underlying organic heart problem, it can usually be corrected surgically.

PROBABLE OUTCOME--Most innocent heart murmurs detected (particularly in children) disappear or become undetectable over time. People with these murmurs live a completely normal life.

How To Treat

GENERAL MEASURES----If your child has an innocent type heart murmur, treat him or her like any other healthy child. Parents sometimes become concerned about the idea of a heart murmur and become over-protective. This can cause problems for the child's emotional well-being.

MEDICATION--No medication is necessary.

ACTIVITY--Do not limit activity.

DIET--No special diet.

Call Your Doctor If

You need further assurance about heart murmurs.