What is a Heart Murmur

Normally the heart beats in two sounds: the first is a 'lub' like sound, caused by the mitral and tricuspid valves closing at the beginning of the systole, and the second is a 'dub' like sound, caused by the aortic and pulmonary valves closing at beginning of the diastole. These two sounds follow each other and should not be interrupted by any other sounds. A heart murmur is a swishing or a whistling sound heard along with the normal 'lub-dub' sound.

There are mainly two types of heart murmurs: innocent and abnormal. People suffering from innocent heart murmurs have healthy hearts with no signs of heart problems. These murmurs occur when the blood flows faster than normal, or when there is extra blood flow through the heart. These murmurs can also be caused due to changes in the heart after a surgery, aging, or during pregnancy. On the other hand, people suffering form abnormal heart murmurs can have symptoms of heart diseases. These murmurs are more common in children, especially at the time of birth. Congenital heart defects, septal defects (holes in the heart), infections, or any damage to the heart valves are some common causes of abnormal heart murmurs. These defects are related to the heart structure, interior walls and valves of the heart, arteries, and veins that transport blood to the heart and other parts of the body.

Signs and Symptoms
Usually heart murmurs are harmless but their symptoms depend on the cause behind the murmurs and how severe that cause is. Some of the signs and symptoms are as follows:

• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Blue coloring of the skin on the fingertips and inside the mouth
• Dizziness or fainting
• Excessive sweating
• Fatigue
• Abnormal growth and poor eating habits in infants

Diagnosis and Treatment
To diagnose a heart murmur, doctors usually perform a physical exam, where they ask patients about symptoms, along with their medical and family histories. They evaluate heart murmurs by the sound - low, medium, or high pitch - how long it lasts, and how it is affected by breathing and different physical activities of the body. Once heart murmurs are confirmed, doctors may ask the patient to undergo various tests like chest X-rays, ECG, echocardiography and cardiac catheterization.

Children diagnosed with innocent heart murmurs do not need treatment as they have normal hearts, however, they should always go for regular checkups. Similarly, pregnant women suffering from innocent heart murmurs also do not need treatment. Persons suffering from anemia, hyperthyroidism or fever can also have innocent murmurs. However, these murmurs will abate and eventually stop after the illness is cured. The treatment for patients suffering from abnormal heart murmurs can range from medicine to surgery, depending upon the type and severity of heart damage.

A heart murmur is not a disease, it's just a way of alerting ourselves to ensure that the heart is functioning properly. Majority of heart murmurs are harmless, but if diagnosed, one should always consult a doctor for necessary treatment and precautions.