Is a heart murmur life threatening?

Is a heart murmur life threatening?

Many heart murmurs aren’t life-threatening and don’t need treatment. But other heart murmurs do need treatment because they’re a sign of an underlying problem with your heart. It’s important to remember that if you’ve been diagnosed with a heart murmur, that doesn’t mean you’ll always have it.

Are heart murmurs serious in adults?

An abnormal heart murmur is more serious. In children, abnormal murmurs are usually caused by congenital heart disease. In adults, abnormal murmurs are most often due to acquired heart valve problems.

What is a Grade 2 heart murmur?

Grade II murmurs are soft, but your veterinarian can hear them with the help of a stethoscope. Grade III murmurs have a loudness that falls in the middle of grades II and IV. Most murmurs that cause serious problems are at least a grade III. Grade IV murmurs are loud and can be heard on either side of the chest.

Can a healthy person have a heart murmur?

People who have a healthy heart can sometimes have murmurs. Doctors can often tell the difference between different types of murmurs by the sound they make, and can identify murmurs that might be linked to a problem with your heart.

Can a teenager have a non life threatening heart murmur?

Heart murmurs that aren’t dangerous or life-threatening are sometimes called “innocent heart murmurs.” One of the reasons these types of heart murmurs happen is because blood flows more quickly through your heart than normal. You may have an innocent (non life-threatening) heart murmur if: you’re a teenager and your body is growing quickly.

What are the medical terms for heart murmurs?

(These are called innocent heart murmurs) Heart murmurs that are caused by diseases or structural problems in your heart may need treatment. (These are called abnormal heart murmurs)

What causes a child to have a heart murmur?

A heart murmur is an extra or unusual sound which may be heard. It may be caused by a related heart problem, but often there is no cause at all. Heart murmurs are quite common in children. They are sometimes described as ‘innocent’ heart murmurs.

Why are heart murmurs not dangerous or life threatening?

Heart murmurs that aren’t dangerous or life-threatening are sometimes called “innocent heart murmurs.” One of the reasons these types of heart murmurs happen is because blood flows more quickly through your heart than normal. you’re a teenager and your body is growing quickly.

When is a heart murmur a warning sign?

If an unusual sound appears, well, you’ve got a heart murmur. But, it’s not automatically a warning sign of danger. A heart murmur naturally creates concern for a patient when it’s diagnosed, but it’s only a sound. It is important to determine what is causing the murmur and to have it monitored.

Is there anything you can do about a heart murmur?

While there’s not much you can do to prevent a heart murmur, it is reassuring to know that heart murmurs are not a disease and are often harmless. For children, many murmurs go away on their own as children grow. For adults, murmurs may disappear as the underlying condition causing them improves.

How many children are born with a heart murmur?

40—45 percent of children have a heart murmur. Most children with murmurs have a congenital heart murmur, meaning they were born with it. Is Having a Heart Murmur Dangerous? Whether a heart murmur is dangerous depends on what’s causing it in the first place.