What Does a Heart Murmur Sound Like?

What is Heart Murmur?

A heart murmur is an extra loud sound in your heartbeat, often described as a whooshing or swishing noise. This occurs when blood doesn’t flow smoothly through your heart.

Most heart murmurs are innocent, but if a doctor hears an abnormal murmur, they might run tests to check your heart’s health.

There are three main types of heart murmurs:

• Systolic murmur: This happens when your heart muscle squeezes.
• Diastolic murmur: This happens when your heart muscle relaxes.
• Continuous murmur: You can hear this sound all the time while your heart beats.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of a Heart Murmur?

Most people with a heart murmur feel perfectly fine. However, some people might notice these symptoms:

• Feeling faint or dizzy.
• Chest pain.
• Shortness of breath.
• A cough that won’t go away.
• Swelling in legs, arms, or tummy.
• Sweating a lot, even when resting.
• (For babies and children) Not growing well or not eating much.

If you have any of the above-mentioned symptoms, see your doctor. They’ll listen to your heart and decide if you need more tests. Don’t worry, they can also help you feel less anxious about it.

What Method is Most Commonly Used to Detect Heart Murmurs?

To figure out what’s causing your heart murmur and causing that strange sound, your doctor will do some tests. These tests help them understand your heart’s health.

Medical History

Your doctor will ask about your medical history and any problems you’ve had.

Physical Examination

Your cardiologist will use a stethoscope to listen to the sounds your heart makes.

Chest X-Ray

A chest X-ray can provide a clear picture of the condition of your heart and lungs.

ECG

This test checks your heart’s electrical activity.

Blood Test

Blood tests can give information about your overall health.

Echocardiogram

This test uses sound waves to create pictures of your heart.

How is a Heart Murmur Treated?

How you treat a heart murmur depends on what’s causing it.

• Many heart murmurs are innocent and don’t require any treatment.
• If your heart has a problem, like a leaky valve or a hole, you might need surgery to fix it. This could be a big surgery to open your chest.
• If an infection is causing the murmur (like endocarditis), you’ll need antibiotics. Sometimes, surgery is also needed.
• If you have anemia (low red blood cells), you can often fix it by eating foods with iron or taking iron pills. In severe cases, you might need a blood transfusion or to remove your spleen.
• If your thyroid gland is overactive (hyperthyroidism), you’ll need medicine or surgery to fix it.

In Short

Many heart murmurs are harmless and don’t need treatment. But if your heart murmur doesn’t sound normal, your heart doctor will talk to you about your options. Depending on the problem, you might need medicine or ongoing check-ups.

Have more questions? Call us at (936) 978-0466 to book an appointment. Our heart experts at Healthy Living Heart and Vein are here to help!