Heart murmurs and other sounds

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Heart, section through the middle

Chest sounds - murmurs; Heart sounds - abnormal

This finding is usually detected during examination by a health care provider.

A heart murmur is usually discovered by a health care provider during a physical examination. The patient may or may not have been aware of its presence. The physical examination will include careful attention to heart sounds.

The doctor may ask the following questions:

• Have other family members had murmurs or other abnormal heart sounds?
• Is there any family history of heart problems?
• What other symptoms are present -- such as bluish skin color ( cyanosis), liver enlargement, distended neck veins,  lung sound changes, weight gain, swelling, or shortness of breath?

Diagnostic testing to determine the cause of a "new" murmur or other abnormal heart sound may include:

• ECG
• chest x-ray
• echocardiography

Review Date: 11/14/2005
Reviewed By: Steven Kang, MD, Division of Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology, East Bay Arrhythmia, Cardiovascular Consultants Medical Group, Oakland, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.