Innocent Murmurs

Innocent Heart Murmurs

What is a heart murmur?

A heart murmur is a sound made between beats of the heart. The sound is made by turbulent blood flowing through the heart. It is similar to the sound water makes as it flows through a pipe. Many people have heart murmurs – it all depends on the acoustics of the individual. When a murmur is present, it may or may not mean that there is something wrong with the structure of the heart. ALL children have heart murmurs at some point or another!

What is an innocent heart murmur?

Innocent heart murmurs are murmurs found in people with normal hearts. Innocent heart murmurs - also called functional, normal, vibratory, or physiologic murmurs - are harmless. They are TYPICAL in children and may disappear and reappear throughout childhood – they change depending on the varying acoustics with growth, and the amount of blood flow though the heart (just as more water flowing through a pipe makes a louder sound even if the pipe is normal). If you/your child has an innocent heart murmur, the sound may become louder whenever he or she is excited or frightened or has a fever. Innocent heart murmurs cause no problems, and most disappear, or not heard after a child nears adulthood because of the changes in heart rate, acoustic (most adults are bigger and thicker,) and relative amount of blood flow through the heart.

How does it occur?

Your heart makes sounds ("lub-dub") when the heart valves close. Normally it is silent between beats. An innocent murmur is a sound between beats that does not indicate something is wrong with the structure of the heart. It is just a sound made because of the way the blood is flowing through the heart. The doctor will often be able to tell what is causing the turbulence when he or she notes the location of the murmur and listens to all the sounds the heart makes. Other tests are done if the sounds suggests a possible problem with the heart.

How is it diagnosed?

An innocent heart murmur is usually diagnosed by the doctor listening to the heart through a stethoscope. Sometimes an electrocardiogram or an echocardiogram may help the doctor in deciding if what they heard is normal or not. An electrocardiogram is a recording of the heart's electrical activity. An echocardiogram uses ultrasound waves to record pictures of the structures inside the heart. Rarely, chest x-rays are ordered. All of these tests are painless, and usually none of them are needed. In fact, none of the tests can really tell the doctor what they heard, but they may help in making decisions.

How is it treated?

Innocent heart murmurs never require any treatment. You do not need to schedule follow-up visits to the doctor nor do you need to limit physical activity.
Please note: If you or your doctor ever has any new questions or concerns about this murmur, or any other sign, symptom or problem that might be due to the cardiovascular system, the door is always open for a follow-up visit!