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Heart Murmurs: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

Posted on August 10th, 2023

When the heart beats, it makes a sound described as a “lupp-dupp” sound when a doctor listens to the heart with a stethoscope. But sometimes doctors hear an extra, abnormal sound as well, which is called a murmur. The typical “lupp-dupp” sound of a heartbeat corresponds to the closing of valves in the heart. A murmur is the sound of blood flowing through the heart, which makes a swooshing noise.

Many heart murmurs are said to be innocent, or harmless, and do not indicate a problem with the heart. Other murmurs can point to a problem that needs treatment. A doctor will assess the sound and recommend treatment, if needed. Murmurs are often found during childhood, especially in those with congenital heart defects, but adults can develop a murmur at any time for many reasons. 

Causes of heart murmurs

Heart murmurs that are innocent reflect the normal sound of blood flowing through the heart and do not indicate a structural abnormality. Murmurs that do reflect structural abnormality are tied to malfunctioning heart valves. These can be present from birth or develop later in life for the following reasons. 

  • Leaky valves – Sometimes heart valves fail to close all the way. Valves typically allow blood to flow one direction and close tightly to prevent backward flow. When the valves are damaged, blood can leak back into the previous chamber, which creates a murmur.
  • Narrowed heart valves – Age and disease can cause heart valves to become stiff and unable to fully open. In that case, blood must rush through the valve faster or for a longer period of time than normal. These movements are heard as a murmur. 
  • Hole in the heart – A hole in the wall of the heart can allow abnormal blood flow, which can cause a murmur with symptoms. A hole in the heart wall is sometimes a congenital problem seen in babies but also can occur in adults after a heart attack or other damage to the heart.
  • Infection – Certain viruses and bacteria can cause endocarditis, or inflammation of the heart. Left untreated, the inflammation can affect heart valve function and create a murmur.

Symptoms of heart murmur

When a heart murmur is innocent, it does not have any symptoms and is generally discovered during a routine health exam. Heart murmurs that require treatment may have symptoms similar to other heart problems, including:

  • Dizziness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest pain
  • Fainting
  • Bluish tint to the skin or fingernails
  • Weight gain
  • Chronic cough

Treatments for heart murmur

When a heart murmur is innocent, no treatment is needed. But for those that indicate a problem, several treatments are commonly used.

  • Blood thinners – Blood thinners work to prevent blood clots. Because the conditions that cause heart murmurs often cause clots, blood thinners may be used in the treatment of the murmur.
  • ACE inhibitors – These medications are used to treat high blood pressure. High blood pressure can exacerbate the conditions that cause heart murmurs, so treating it helps to reduce complications.  
  • Antibiotics – If bacterial infection is causing the heart murmur, doctors will use antibiotics to treat the infection.
  • Catheterization or other surgery – Cardiac catheterization can be used to help in diagnosing the cause of a heart murmur and in treating murmurs due to a structural defect in the heart.

If you have symptoms of a heart murmur or recent heart issues that may result in a murmur, contact Oklahoma Heart Hospital to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists.