Heart Murmur? Why Your Heart Sounds Different & Medical Next Steps

Hearing that you have a heart murmur can feel unsettling. The word "murmur" sounds serious. But in many cases, a heart murmur is harmless. In other cases, it can signal an underlying heart condition that needs medical care.

Understanding what a heart murmur is — and what to do next — can help you stay calm, informed, and proactive about your health.

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What Is a Heart Murmur?

A heart murmur is an unusual sound your doctor hears when listening to your heart with a stethoscope. Instead of the normal "lub-dub" heartbeat, a murmur may sound like:

• Whooshing
• Swishing
• Blowing
• Rushing blood

These sounds happen because of turbulent (abnormal) blood flow inside the heart.

A heart murmur is not a disease itself. It is a finding — a clue that may or may not point to a medical issue.

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What Causes a Heart Murmur?

Heart murmurs fall into two main categories:

1. Innocent (Harmless) Heart Murmurs

These are very common — especially in:

• Children
• Teenagers
• Pregnant women
• Athletes

Innocent heart murmurs occur when blood flows more quickly than usual through a healthy heart. They do not reflect structural heart disease.

Common reasons include:

• Fever
• Anemia
• Pregnancy
• Rapid growth in children
• Exercise

Innocent murmurs typically:

• Cause no symptoms
• Require no treatment
• Do not shorten lifespan

Many children outgrow them.

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2. Abnormal Heart Murmurs

An abnormal heart murmur may signal a problem with the heart's structure, especially the heart valves.

The heart has four valves that keep blood moving in the right direction. If a valve does not open or close properly, blood flow becomes turbulent — creating a murmur.

Common causes include:

• Valve stenosis (narrowed valve)
• Valve regurgitation (leaky valve)
• Congenital heart defects (present at birth)
• Rheumatic heart disease
• Infective endocarditis (heart valve infection)
• Age-related valve degeneration

In adults over 65, murmurs are often linked to valve changes from aging.

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What Symptoms Might Occur?

Many people with a heart murmur have no symptoms at all.

However, if a murmur is related to heart disease, symptoms may include:

• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Fatigue
• Dizziness or fainting
• Swelling in the legs or ankles
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Bluish lips or fingertips (in severe cases)

If you notice these symptoms, especially chest pain or fainting, you should seek medical care promptly.

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Heart Murmur vs. Heart Palpitations

Some people confuse a heart murmur with heart palpitations.

• A heart murmur is a sound heard by a doctor.
• Palpitations are sensations you feel — such as pounding, fluttering, or skipped beats.

If you're experiencing irregular or fluttering heartbeats alongside your heart murmur concerns, you can check your symptoms with a free AI-powered tool to better understand what they might mean and get personalized guidance before your doctor visit.

Still, no online tool replaces a proper medical evaluation.

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How Is a Heart Murmur Diagnosed?

A heart murmur is usually first detected during a routine physical exam.

If your doctor hears one, they will assess:

• The loudness (graded 1 through 6)
• The timing (when it happens in the heartbeat)
• Where it's best heard on the chest
• Whether it changes with body position

To determine if it's harmless or abnormal, further testing may include:

Echocardiogram (Ultrasound of the Heart)

This is the most important test. It shows:

• Valve structure
• Blood flow patterns
• Heart size
• Pumping strength

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

Measures electrical activity of the heart.

Chest X-ray

Shows heart size and lung condition.

Cardiac MRI (in select cases)

Provides detailed imaging.

An echocardiogram is typically the key test to confirm whether a heart murmur is serious.

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When Is a Heart Murmur Serious?

A heart murmur becomes concerning when it is linked to:

• Severe valve narrowing
• Significant valve leakage
• Heart enlargement
• Reduced heart pumping function
• Symptoms like fainting or chest pain

Serious valve disease can eventually lead to:

• Heart failure
• Stroke
• Dangerous heart rhythm disturbances

This is why proper evaluation matters. Ignoring symptoms can allow problems to worsen.

That said, many murmurs never progress and require only monitoring.

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Treatment Options

Treatment depends entirely on the cause.

If the Murmur Is Innocent:

• No treatment is needed
• No lifestyle restrictions
• Regular checkups only

If It's Related to Valve Disease:

Treatment may include:

• Monitoring with periodic echocardiograms
• Medications to manage blood pressure, fluid buildup, or heart rhythm
• Antibiotics (if infection is present)
• Surgery or minimally invasive valve repair/replacement in severe cases

Modern heart valve treatments are much safer and more effective than in the past. Many procedures can now be done with catheter-based techniques rather than open-heart surgery.

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Lifestyle Steps to Protect Your Heart

If you have a heart murmur — especially one linked to valve disease — heart-healthy habits matter.

Focus on:

• Managing blood pressure
• Controlling cholesterol
• Staying physically active (as advised by your doctor)
• Avoiding smoking
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Limiting excess alcohol

These steps reduce strain on your heart and may slow progression of heart disease.

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Special Considerations for Children

Heart murmurs are very common in children. Most are innocent and disappear over time.

However, signs that require urgent pediatric evaluation include:

• Poor feeding
• Slow growth
• Rapid breathing
• Sweating during feeding
• Blue-tinged skin

Pediatric cardiologists are specially trained to evaluate murmurs in infants and children.

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When Should You See a Doctor?

You should speak to a doctor if:

• You were told you have a new heart murmur
• You develop chest pain
• You experience fainting
• You have shortness of breath that worsens
• You notice swelling in your legs
• You feel persistent irregular heartbeats

If symptoms are severe or sudden — such as crushing chest pain, fainting, or severe shortness of breath — seek emergency care immediately.

A heart murmur can sometimes signal life-threatening conditions. Prompt evaluation can be lifesaving.

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The Bottom Line

A heart murmur simply means your doctor heard an unusual sound in your heartbeat. In many people — especially children and young adults — it is completely harmless.

However, in some cases, it can point to heart valve disease or structural heart problems that need monitoring or treatment.

The key steps are:

• Get properly evaluated
• Complete recommended testing (especially an echocardiogram)
• Monitor symptoms
• Follow your doctor's advice

If you're experiencing concerning symptoms like chest pain, fatigue, or shortness of breath, take a moment to use a free symptom checker to help you understand what might be happening and prepare important information before your medical consultation.

Most importantly, always speak to a doctor about any heart-related symptoms that could be serious or life-threatening. Early detection and appropriate care make a major difference in long-term outcomes.

Your heart may sound different — but with the right information and medical guidance, you can take confident, informed steps forward.