The "Sound" of A Murmur

[Rush20]

Perhaps a "dumb" question, and certainly a "late" question, however what does a Heart Murmur actually sound like? When I was diagnosed with my leaking aortic valve 1.5 years ago, I was caught by surprise and never asked to hear the murmur.

Recently, my sister-in-law gave me her professional level stethascope (sp?) that was given to her during her pregnancy to hear her baby. When listening to my heart, I can hear the mechanical-type beat, however nothing else to my naked ear.

My cardio told me a murmur has a "swoosh" sound (if that makes sense) instead of a common thub-thub.

I guess my curiosity is high because with the exception of the murmur that the doctors heard, I had no symptoms prior to my diagnosis and I'm a little nervous something else could be going on without my knowledge.

 

[Johnny Stephens]

But - you've already had your valve replaced, right? You probably don't have a murmur anymore.

This site has some sound clips of many different types of murmurs: http://egeneralmedical.com/egeneralmedical/listohearmur.html

Before my surgery, my aortic murmur sounded somewhat like an owl - "whoooo thump, whooooo thump, whoooo thump." My surgeon called it a "musical" murmur, or "thrill."

 

[Rush20]

But - you've already had your valve replaced, right? You probably don't have a murmur anymore.

This site has some sound clips of many different types of murmurs: http://egeneralmedical.com/egeneralmedical/listohearmur.html

Before my surgery, my aortic murmur sounded somewhat like an owl - "whoooo thump, whooooo thump, whoooo thump." My surgeon called it a "musical" murmur, or "thrill."

Yes, I already had my surgery and I was curious that when I listen to my heart through the stethascope (sp?again) if I should be wary of a certain sound. Ie valve stitching leaks or other valve murmurs.

 

[McCln]

Rush

Rush

It a swoshing sound. You need to hear it either through a stethiscope or when an echo is being done, you will hear it. When I had an echo over three years ago, before second bypass, the swoosh was very loud and terrible. I knew then, hearing it, it was time for surgery. I have a St. Jude's valve and have no swoosh either. When the valve, that has the murmur, the swoosh goes away. So, you are okay.

 

[Bunny_Rabbit]

I believe all murmers sound different. My Cardiologist seems to be able to tell what is wrong with me just by listening.

Mind you, he also called me by the wrong name...so...

 

[PapaHappyStar]

I was in the same situation as you -- no real symptoms before surgery -- but I did hear a beauty of a murmur, sometimes even without a stethoscope through my pillow at night.

Here is a site with links to heart sounds ( ausculatation )

http://www2.umdnj.edu/~shindler/auscultation.html

My murmur is gone now as well....