Heart Murmur Symptoms & Diagnosis

Symptoms

Benign heart murmurs usually cause no symptoms. Patients with mitral valve prolapse sometimes complain of vague chest discomfort and other symptoms. It remains unclear whether or not the valvular abnormality is causing the symptoms.

Symptoms of abnormal heart murmurs include:

Shortness of breath
Light-headedness
Chest pain
Palpitations (feeling of rapid or irregular heartbeat)
Exercise intolerance

Diagnosis

Most benign heart murmurs are diagnosed during the course of a routine physical exam with a stethoscope. Some abnormal heart murmurs are also discovered this way. Other abnormal heart murmurs are discovered initially by their symptoms.

Tests may include:

Electrocardiogram —a test that records the heart's electrical activity using electrodes attached to the surface of the chest. This does not diagnose the cause of the murmur but can provide other useful information about the condition of the heart.
Chest x-ray —an x-ray to determine the approximate size and shape of the heart, and the presence of associated lung swelling (pulmonary edema)
Echocardiogram —a test that uses high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to examine the size, shape, and motion of the heart
Cardiac catheterization —a tube inserted into the heart through an artery (usually in the groin) to detect problems with the heart's structure, function, and blood supply
Blood tests—to check for evidence of a recurrent heart attack or other diseases that may affect the heart (eg, kidney disease, infections, autoimmune conditions)

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