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, use this free Benign Arrhythmias (Palpitations) symptom checker to understand what your symptoms might mean and get personalized next steps 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 unsure about related symptoms like fluttering or skipped beats, check your symptoms for Benign Arrhythmias (Palpitations) using a free AI-powered tool to better prepare for 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.