What is a Heart Murmur.
A heart murmur sound is a whooshing sound made by the rapid turbulent flow of blood in the heart. It is audible through the stethoscope over the heart. It is not normally heard but is an additional sound heard over the heart during the heartbeat. It is heard when the blood flow through the heart is not as it should be and some additional turbulence occurs. For a better understanding, you are advised to read blood flow through heart.
Systolic Murmurs.
A systolic murmur is a murmur which is heard during the ventricular systole (contraction). It begins during or after the first heart sound (S1) and ends during or before the second heart sound (S2). Systolic murmurs are caused by stenosis of the semilunar valves (aortic or pulmonary valves) and regurgitation of the atrioventricular valves. (mitral and/or tricuspid).
Diastolic Murmurs.
A diastolic murmur is heard during the ventricular diastole. This murmur starts during or after the second heart sound (S2) and ends during or before the first heart sound (S1). These murmurs mostly involve stenosis of the atrioventricular valves and regurgitation of the semilunar valves.
Grade of Heart Murmur.
A heart murmur grade is designated from a scale of 1 to 6 depending on its intensity. Following are the heart murmur grades:
- Grade 1 – very faintly heard.
- Grade 2 – easily heard and soft
- Grade 3 – easily heard and moderately loud.
Grade 4, 5, and 6 are associated with vibration when the chest is palpated.
- Grade 4 – loud murmur with a palpable thrill
- Grade 5 – very loud with a thrill and can be heard even when the stethoscope is partly off the chest.
- Grade 6 – very loud with palpable thrill and can be heard even when the stethoscope is off the chest.
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Heart murmurs in children –>
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