What is a heart murmur???

Answer 1

I understand that a heart murmur is when the valves of the heart don't close tight enough and the blood seeps back thru them when the valve closes. The heart is a positive displacement pump. When the heart relaxes, new blood flows into the heart from the atrials. Valves have to open to let this blood in.

Then the heart will contract and pump blood out to the body. Valves have to open to allow this. If the valves don't close tightly a (hopefully) small amount of blood will seep BACK thru the valve and causes a heart murmur.

When people have Rheumatic Fever, caused from strep throat, the valves are damaged.

DO NOT EVER underestimate Strep Throat.

A small murmur may not be any problem while the larger murmurs can be dangerous. Good luck. Pops

Answer 2

A heart murmur is an extra or unusual sound heard during your heartbeat. Murmurs range from very faint to very loud and sometimes sound like a whooshing or swishing noise. Normal heartbeat sounds—"lub-DUPP" or "lub-DUB"—are the valves closing as blood moves through the heart. A heart murmur is not a disease; it is a sound that the doctor hears with a stethoscope. It may be normal, or it could be a sign that something may be wrong. Most heart murmurs are harmless. Some are signs of heart problems, especially if other signs or symptoms of a heart problem are present.

Answer 3

heart murmur is an extra or unusual sound heard during your heartbeat. Murmurs range from very faint to very loud and sometimes sound like a whooshing or swishing noise. Normal heartbeat sounds—"lub-DUPP" or "lub-DUB"—are the valves closing as blood moves through the heart.

A heart murmur is not a disease; it is a sound that the doctor hears with a stethoscope. It may be normal, or it could be a sign that something may be wrong. Most heart murmurs are harmless. Some are signs of heart problems, especially if other signs or symptoms of a heart problem are present.

Answer 4

When the doctor listens to a perfectly healthy normal heart he hears a regular sound pattern. But sometimes he may hear an extra, unusual sound in there that isn't "normal" and when he does, it's called a "murmur" There are many different murmurs, and many causes Not all of them are a sign of an unhealthy heart. BUT because of the wide range of possibilities,.... from nothing to worry about... to "warning" the only sensible thing to do is to find out very clearly from an expert exactly what the cause is through appropriate tests. You never want to hear any doctor say...."If you had come to me with this sooner, we could have fixed it"

Answer 5

A heart murmur is an abnormal sound made by the heart as it beats. They are often present in babies, children and teens and gradually disappear as they grow up. They are known as innocent murmurs and are usually harmless. Don't worry about it, I had one too and the cardiologist told me it was nothing to worry about. But if you're not sure check with your doctor. Usually a heart murmur is caused by a heart valve when it doesn't close completely.

Answer 6

A heart murmur is a sound heard when closure of the valve(s) is incomplete. Blood may leak back through the valve and that causes the unusual sound. The seriousness of the murmur depends on the amount of valvular damage.

Answer 7

Case 29
Primary Clinician: Gerhard Wess, DVM
Supervising Clinician: Mark D. Kittleson, DVM, PhD, Shorthair cat named "Nimbus"
Presenting Complaints
bulletHeart Murmur
Pertinent History
bulletClient obtained cat from shelter one month ago. The shelter obtained the cat in November at 4 months of age. When they received her, she was febrile, lethargic, weak, and had hind-end pain. She was treated with antibiotics and fluids and responded well. Radiographs were taken at that time.
bulletWhen the client obtained Nimbus from the shelter, she took her to her referring veterinarian for an exam and vaccinations. The referring veterinarian interpreted previous rads as showing cardiomegaly and repeated rads, which were again interpreted as showing cardiomegaly. A III/VI systolic murmur was ausculted, and a radiologist performed a cardiac echo three weeks ago that demonstrated congenital heart disease.
bulletUpon presentation to the Cardiology Service today the client reports that the kitten is doing great at home. She is very active with a great appetite, no coughing, intermittent sneezing with no discharge (~10 sneezes/day), no v/d/pu/pd. Occasionally acts like she is trying to bring up after eating dry food (3 occurrences in last month). Owner has not noticed any respiratory difficulties or exercise intolerance.
bulletShe is spayed, and currently due for her third FVRCP vaccine.
Physical Examination
bulletGen: BARH, WT 2.8kg, T 101, P 180, R 40, sniffing
bulletInt: clean full hair coat, no masses, no fleas noted
bulletEENT: eyes: clean, clear, no d/c, no scleral injection. ears: clean. nose: clean, no d/c, three sneezes heard in exam room, no discharge. throat: mm pale pink, permanent dentition, no calculus or gingivitis, nothing under tongue, tonsils not visualized.
bulletMS: lean, well muscled, symmetric, normal gait, BCS 5/9
bulletCV: IV/VI left basilar systolic ejection murmur, strong synchronous femoral pulses, mm pale pink, CRT<1s, no jugular distention or pulses
bulletResp: eupneic, increased bronchovesicular sounds all fields
bulletGI: no masses or organomegaly palpated, smooth bowel loops palpated
bulletGU: smooth kidneys bilaterally, small smooth bladder, no vulvar discharge
bulletN: plr and palpebral intact OU, full exam not performed
bulletLN: mandibular, prescapular, popliteal <5mm

Problems
bulletSystolic heart murmur
bulletUltrasound report of congenital heart disease



©Mark D. Kittleson, D.V.M., Ph.D. All rights reserved.

Answer 8

I think it is a heart skipping.

Answer 9

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