Health Tip: Understanding a Heart Murmur

An “innocent” heart murmur is a non-dangerous series of sounds made by the heart as it pumps blood through the organ’s chambers and valves, the American Heart Association says.

The condition is common among children, and it may disappear and reappear when they are excited or scared, the association adds. Most murmurs disappear by the time children become adults.

During an exam, your doctor may hear a murmur and may recommend more testing to confirm that it is “innocent” or warrants closer examination.

If a murmur proves to be more significant (“non-innocent”), it’s likely due to a heart valve problem, the AHA says. The problem may have been present at birth, or may have been triggered by conditions such as pregnancy, fever or anemia.

Source: HealthDay