(HealthDayNews) -- A heart murmur is an extra or unusual sound heard during the heartbeat, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
Murmurs range from faint to relatively loud and sometimes sound like a whooshing or swishing noise. A murmur could be nothing to worry about or, in rare cases, could signal a serious heart problem.
A person with an innocent murmur has a normal heart and usually has no other symptoms of a heart problem. Innocent murmurs are common in healthy children.
A child with an abnormal murmur usually has other signs of a heart problem, which often is present since birth. In adults, abnormal murmurs are most often due to heart valve problems caused by infection, disease or aging.
If you suspect you or your child has a heart murmur, have a doctor evaluate the condition as soon as possible.
