Medically reviewed by Dr Nabila Laskar, Consultant Cardiologist (GMC 7040901). A heart murmur is an extra sound heard during a heartbeat, caused by turbulent blood flow through the heart. Many murmurs are completely harmless, but some indicate an underlying valve or structural issue that benefits from further assessment.
Murmurs are classified as innocent (functional) or pathological. Innocent murmurs are common in children and fit adults and relate to normal blood flow turbulence. Pathological murmurs can result from valve narrowing (stenosis), valve leakage (regurgitation), congenital heart defects, or structural changes such as a thickened heart muscle.
Murmurs are first identified during a clinical examination using a stethoscope. Their loudness, timing, and location help a cardiologist judge whether further investigation is needed. An echocardiogram is the definitive test — it directly visualises the valves and chambers to confirm or exclude a structural cause.
No. Many murmurs, particularly in children, athletes, and during pregnancy, are entirely innocent and require no treatment. However, new murmurs in adulthood, murmurs accompanied by breathlessness, chest pain or fainting, or murmurs found alongside other risk factors should always be assessed with an echocardiogram.
If an echocardiogram confirms a structural cause, management depends entirely on the specific finding — ranging from simple monitoring for mild valve changes, to medication, to referral for valve repair or replacement in more significant cases.
No. A murmur reflects how blood flows through the heart's valves and chambers, not coronary artery blockage. The two are assessed differently.
Innocent murmurs in children sometimes resolve as the heart matures. Murmurs caused by structural valve changes typically do not disappear without treatment, though they may remain stable for years.
Yes — any newly identified murmur warrants cardiology assessment, usually including an echocardiogram, to determine its cause.
This depends on associated symptoms, but as a general rule, new murmurs should be assessed within weeks, not left indefinitely.