Does a Heart Murmur Mean Heart Disease?

Heart murmur. The term alone can spark concern and questions about heart health. 

When diagnosed with a heart murmur, it’s common to wonder if it signals something more serious, like heart disease. This article aims to provide clear (and reassuring) information about the nature of heart murmurs and their relationship with heart health.

What is a Heart Murmur?

In short, a heart murmur is an extra or unusual sound heard during a heartbeat. Murmurs range from very faint to quite loud and sometimes sound like a whooshing or swishing noise amid normal beats. Heart murmurs themselves are not a disease but rather symptoms or indicators that can be associated with a variety of heart conditions.

Types of Heart Murmurs

There are a few types of heart murmurs: 

• • Systolic murmurs occur when the heart contracts.
  • Diastolic murmurs are heard when the heart relaxes between beats.
  • Continuous murmurs happen throughout the cardiac cycle.

Murmurs are classified based on their timing in the cardiac cycle and the intensity or loudness, graded on a scale from 1 to 6.

Innocent vs. Abnormal Heart Murmurs

Distinguishing between innocent and abnormal heart murmurs is the key to proper diagnosis and treatment.

Innocent Heart Murmurs

Most heart murmurs are harmless. Known as innocent murmurs, these kinds of heart murmurs do not signify heart disease. 

• Definition: Innocent heart murmurs are sounds made by blood circulating through the heart and nearby blood vessels. They are common in healthy children and typically go away before adulthood. 
• Causes: Often, innocent murmurs arise from a rapid blood flow through the heart, seen during phases of accelerated growth, pregnancy, fever, or physical activity.
• Significance: Innocent murmurs are harmless and usually require no treatment. 

Abnormal Heart Murmurs

Some murmurs can indicate underlying heart problems, especially if other symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, or dizziness are present. 

• Definition: Abnormal heart murmurs may cause symptoms due to underlying heart problems and can indicate the presence of congenital heart defects or valve issues. 
• Causes: Conditions such as valve calcification, valve regurgitation, or septal defects can lead to abnormal murmurs. These issues disrupt normal blood flow through the heart, creating audible murmurs.
• Significance: Unlike innocent murmurs, abnormal ones often require medical intervention. Treatment can range from medication to manage symptoms to surgery to correct structural problems.

Experiencing chest pain? Learn the difference between angina and heart attack.

Diagnosis & Treatment

Identifying a heart murmur often starts with a healthcare provider noticing an unusual sound during a physical examination. This discovery may then lead to a deeper investigation to determine the murmur’s cause. Diagnosis can involve various diagnostic tests such as echocardiograms, electrocardiograms (EKG), and chest X-rays.

Get everything you need to know about heart tests and when to get them.  

Treatment for a heart murmur is highly dependent on its underlying cause. Innocent murmurs, which are harmless and not a sign of heart disease, typically require no treatment. Patients with innocent murmurs are often simply monitored over time to ensure no changes occur. On the other hand, abnormal murmurs require a targeted treatment approach. 

Remember – a heart murmur doesn’t always point to heart disease.

Instead, it’s a sign that warrants attention and possibly further investigation to ensure the heart is functioning properly. By addressing the root cause, if one exists, individuals with heart murmurs can often lead healthy, active lives.

Heart murmurs may not mean heart disease, but heart disease can mean sudden cardiac arrest. Keep the hearts around you safe by having an AED on hand. Get an FRx AED now.