What is a Heart Murmur?

In the same way that rocks in a rapidly flowing stream can interrupt the smooth flow of current and create a "swooshing" sound, blood flowing turbulently across a stiff, stenotic valve or leaking backwards through a regurgitant valve causes sounds that can be heard through a stethoscope. These sounds are called murmurs. Although a heart murmur may be indicative of a valve problem, not all murmurs are "pathologic," or indicative of a disease state. For example, pregnant women or athletes frequently have murmurs because they have a high volume flow of blood through the heart and across the heart valves.