Sign in

or Register now

MyHeartCentral.com

See all of our health sites at www.HealthCentral.com
Friday, October, 23, 2009

What Causes Heart Murmurs

Health Encyclopedia: Heart Murmurs And Other Sounds

Definition

Murmurs are blowing, whooshing, or rasping sounds produced by turbulent blood flow through the heart valves or near the heart.


Alternative Names

Chest sounds - murmurs; Heart sounds - abnormal


Considerations

A doctor can evaluate heart sounds by listening with a stethoscope. They can be further evaluated with an echocardiogram to see what the exact cause of the murmur is.

The heart has four chambers -- two upper chambers (called atria) an...

Read more »

Expert & Community Posts

9924_3623
Top 75 Migraine and Headache Questions, #51
By Ask the Clinician , Health Expert

...you have any information of a connection between heart murmur caused by the tissue flaps in the... Read more »

7291
Sudden Cardiac Death in Athletes: Prevention
By Melanie Thomassian , Health Expert

...and unexplained fatigue associated with exercise Heart murmur High blood pressure Family... Read more »

45112
What is a Leaky Valve?
By Lisa Nelson , Health Expert

...rapid, fluttering heartbeat Swollen feet or ankles Heart murmur Excessive urination Chest pain... Read more »

77_6122
Investing in heart health
By Dr. Larry Weinrauch , Health Expert

...statistics last year concluded that for many people with heart murmurs, antibiotic prophylaxis... Read more »

77_6122
Avoiding endocarditis prophylaxis at your next dental appointment
By Dr. Larry Weinrauch , Health Expert

...suggested for anyone with a "high" risk by virtue of a heart murmur or defect. Since ten to... Read more »

Health Guide

Mitral Valve Proplase Patient Guide
...there may sometimes be a slight backward leaking of blood (regurgitation) as well, resulting in a heart murmur. MVP seems to be an inherited disorder, although the precise genes are not known.... Read more »
Heart murmurs and other sounds
...examination by a health care provider. What to expect at your health care provider's office A heart murmur is usually discovered by a health care provider during a physical examination.... Read more »
Causes of Cardiac Enlargement
...care provider. A patient’s symptoms or family medical history, high blood pressure, characteristic heart murmur, forceful heart beat, swelling of the legs, or the sound of fluid in the lungs ... Read more »
Heart Attack Symptoms and Warning Signs
ANYONE WHO BELIEVES THEY ARE HAVING A HEART ATTACK SHOULD NOT HESITATE TO CALL THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SYSTEM.In people with known heart disease, any unusual chest pain or other symptoms of... Read more »
Congestive Heart Failure Causes
CausesHeart failure has many causes and can evolve in different ways.It can be a direct, last-stage result of heart damage from one or more of several heart or circulation diseases.It can occur over... Read more »

Related News

Fever Linked to Fatal Heart Disease
June 19, 2008

(Ivanhoe Newswire) Researchers believe a fever can trigger life-threatening changes in patients suffering from the potentially fatal heart disease,... Read summary »

Catching Heart Attacks Earlier
September 04, 2008

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Early detection is the key to surviving a heart attack, but catching these attacks in time isn't easy. Now researchers from... Read summary »

Revolutionary Scan for the Heart
July 13, 2007

CHARLESTON, S.C. (Ivanhoe Broadcast News) -- Each year, 1.5 million Americans receive heart catheterizations. This procedure requires doctors to... Read summary »

Overeating, Not Fat, Causes Metabolic Syndrome
May 07, 2008

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- It was once thought that obesity itself was the cause of metabolic syndrome. But now, new research indicates overeating, and... Read summary »

Heart Attack Warning for Pregnant Women
July 17, 2008

(Ivanhoe Newswire) Young pregnant women having heart attacks may be rare but it's not impossible, especially for those already in high-risk... Read summary »