Most murmurs are not a cause for concern and won't affect a child's health at all. Doctors listen to the heart by putting a stethoscope on different areas of the chest. It helps if kids are quiet as the doctor listens, because some heart murmurs are very soft. It's not unusual for a murmur to be noticed during a routine checkup, even if none was heard before. Heart murmurs are rated on a scale from 1 to 6 based on how loud they are. Grade 1 is very soft, whereas grade 6 is very loud.
If a murmur is found, the doctor may refer a child to a pediatric cardiologist for further evaluation. The most common type of heart murmur is called functional or innocent. An innocent heart murmur is the sound of blood moving through a normal, healthy heart in a normal way. Just as you might hear air moving through an air duct or water flowing through a pipe, doctors can hear blood moving through the heart even when there's no heart problem.
An innocent heart murmur can come and go throughout childhood. Kids with these murmurs don't need a special diet, restriction of activities, or any other special treatment. Those old enough to understand that they have a heart murmur should be reassured that they aren't any different from other kids.
Some murmurs can indicate a problem with the heart. Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website.
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Skip to main content. Home Heart. Heart murmur. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Symptoms Structure of the heart A range of causes Innocent heart murmurs are common Diagnosis methods Treatment options Where to get help Things to remember.
Symptoms Heart murmurs are themselves often asymptomatic have no symptoms. The presence of heart disease may be suggested by: Pains in the chest Tachycardia accelerated heart rate Heart palpitations Breathlessness Fatigue Cyanosis blue tinge to the skin caused by lack of oxygen. Structure of the heart The heart is a double pump consisting of four chambers, each sealed by valves that only permit blood to flow in one direction. A range of causes A heart murmur is usually innocent, and generally does not mean there is an abnormality.
This can be triggered by a range of conditions including: Congenital heart disorders - sometimes, during fetal development, the heart and blood vessels fail to grow properly. The passage of blood inside the heart or vessels may be blocked, or the blood travels abnormally through the heart valves, or the heart itself may be underdeveloped.
If your doctor thinks your heart murmur is caused by a condition that needs treatment, he or she may order an echocardiogram echo and electrocardiograph ECG , and refer you to a cardiologist for further assessment.
A heart murmur itself doesn't need to be treated. However, you may need treatment for the heart condition that is causing your heart murmur, especially if you are having any symptoms problems caused by the condition, like those listed below.
Some people will have a heart murmur their whole lives without needing treatment. In many cases a heart murmur is harmless innocent murmur. However, you need to tell your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms even if you've been told your murmur is innocent :. Other pregnancy conditions can increase the risk, such as uncontrolled diabetes or a rubella infection. Usually, your doctor will find a murmur during a regular exam when listening to your heart with a stethoscope.
Once he or she hears the murmur, they will listen to the loudness, the location, and the timing of it. This will help them determine if it is an innocent murmur or if it could be something more serious.
If your doctor suspects a heart problem, he or she may refer you to a cardiologist. This is a doctor who specializes in the heart.
Your doctor may choose to do some testing. These tests will help him or her see if there are problems with your heart rhythm, your heart structure, or how your heart is working. There is nothing you can do to prevent heart murmurs caused by genetics. Avoiding drugs and alcohol and receiving treatment for infections during pregnancy can prevent some heart murmurs in children.
The treatment for a heart murmur depends on what is causing the murmur. If a heart problem or other condition is causing the murmur, that problem will need to be treated. These types of conditions are usually treated with medicine. Severe cases could require surgery.
An innocent heart murmur does not pose a health threat. If your child has an innocent heart murmur, he or she can run, jump, and play, with no limits on activity.
If you or your child has an innocent heart murmur, you can live a completely normal life. It will not cause you any problems and is not a sign of an issue with your heart. If you have a murmur along with any of the following symptoms, see your doctor:.
American Heart Association: Heart Murmurs. This article was contributed by: familydoctor. This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone.
Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject.
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