Heart Murmur - Description

Blood flows from the body into the heart through veins. It moves from one side of the heart (the atria) into the other side of the heart (the ventricles). It then flows out of the heart through arteries. The flow of blood is controlled by muscular flaps called valves. The valves open and close as blood flows through each part of the heart. When the valves between the atria and the ventricles close, they make a "lubb" sound. When the valves between the ventricles and the major arteries close, they make a "dubb" sound. When doctors listen to the heart beat of a healthy person, they hear a "lubb-dubb" sound.

A heart murmur is a sound other than the usual "lubb-dubb" sound produced by the heart. It usually lasts longer than a normal heart sound and can be heard between the normal "lubb-dubb" sounds.

Heart murmurs occur in normal hearts. They are especially common among young children. Harmless heart murmurs are known as innocent heart murmurs. Innocent heart murmurs are usually very faint. They come and go in an irregular pattern. They do not pose a health threat to the person in whom they occur.

Other heart murmurs are more dangerous. They are called pathological heart murmurs. One cause of pathological heart murmurs is a damaged heart valve. Pathological heart murmurs may be an indication of a serious heart problem. The sound they make is louder and more continuous than that of an innocent heart murmur. They are sometimes described as a clicking or galloping sound.