Murmurs are sounds made by blood circulating through the chambers and valves of the heart or through the blood vessels near the heart. Your doctor can hear these murmurs by listening to your heart through a stethoscope.

When should I worry about a heart murmur?

Heart murmurs are common and may be heard in 20 to 30 percent of normal adults. Most murmurs are benign and are not associated with any structural abnormalities of the heart. These murmurs are sometimes referred to as innocent murmurs, functional murmurs, or physiologic murmurs.

Many murmurs are very soft. Your doctor may not always hear your murmur. Murmurs may also disappear and then reappear.

Should I have further testing?

When your doctor first hears your murmur, or possible change in your murmur, he may want to order an echocardiogram or ultrasound of your heart to rule out any problems with your heart valves.

Do I need to take antibiotics before surgical procedures and dental work, including routine dental cleaning? Some surgical procedures, including dental cleaning, allow bacteria to temporarily travel in your bloodstream. If this bacteria lands on an abnormal valve, it is possible, though rare, that this may cause an infection called endocarditis. Taking a small dose of antibiotics before such procedures may prevent this potential infection.

Not everyone with a murmur needs to take antibiotics before surgical procedures. In most cases, you do not need to take antibiotics if your echocardiogram is normal. Be sure to ask your doctor if you need antibiotics.