Heart murmurs are extra sounds heard during a heartbeat caused by turbulent blood flow. They can be harmless or indicate a medical problem. Innocent murmurs are common in babies and children, while some can indicate serious illness or heart problems. A rating scale of 1 to 6 is used to classify heart murmurs based on their sound. Mitral valve prolapse is a defect that requires treatment or valve replacement.
Heart murmurs are additional sounds a doctor might hear when listening to a heartbeat with a stethoscope. They are sometimes called extra beats and are caused by turbulent blood flow. Murmurs often include a rushing or whooshing sound, although other sounds may indicate a specific cause. They can be harmless or innocent, or they could indicate a medical problem. An innocent heart murmur is often referred to as a functional heart murmur.
Rating scale
A scale of 1 to 6 is used to classify heart murmurs based on their sound. The quietest breaths receive a rank of 1. The loudest breaths are classified as a rank of 6. It’s not uncommon for even innocent breaths to be a little loud, and receive a rank of 3 to 6.
Innocent murmurs
Often, heart murmurs heard in babies are completely innocent. They may be heard a few days after birth and are often a result of the duct, a small opening between the left and right arteries above the heart, remaining open. A murmur caused by an open duct usually goes away within a few weeks. In babies born prematurely, the ductus may remain open and require closure at a later time. Unless the duct is causing significant problems for the newborn, closure usually isn’t attempted for six months to a year.
Heart murmurs can arise within the first few days of life from changes in circulation. When a baby is born, his body starts circulating blood differently so that more blood goes to certain parts of the body, such as the lungs, that weren’t so important before birth. These changes in circulation might cause an initial murmur that goes away shortly after birth.
Even small differences in heart formation could cause murmurs. These can be heard in children from birth or when children are about 2 years old. Usually, these murmurs are innocent and tend to go away within a few years.
In adults, heart murmurs can also be innocent. People with anxiety might sometimes have extra beats called pre-atrial contractions or pre-ventricular contractions. These murmurs are quite normal and do not pose a danger to the heart.
Congenital heart defects
While most heart murmurs are innocent, some can indicate serious illness or heart problems. Babies who have congenital heart defects will often have heart murmurs. Usually, these murmurs are accompanied by symptoms such as poor growth, a bluish tinge to the skin, failure to thrive, inability to eat, or difficulty breathing. These types of murmurs are cause for concern, and a pediatric cardiologist can diagnose specific heart defects and determine the appropriate treatment.
Mitral valve prolapse
Heart murmurs that are present in adolescents and young adults and have a honking or clicking sound could indicate a defect called mitral valve prolapse. Symptoms of this defect are usually not present when a child is young. Mitral valve prolapse, a defect in the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle, usually requires treatment or valve replacement. The honking or clicking sound can often be heard without a stethoscope and should be brought to the attention of a healthcare professional immediately.
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