What are Heart Murmurs?
Heart murmurs are additional sounds a doctor might hear when listening to the beat of a heart with a stethoscope. They are sometimes called extra beats. They often have a rushing or whooshing sound, though other sounds can indicate that heart murmurs have a specific cause. Frequently, heart murmurs heard in children are completely innocent. They may be heard a few days after birth, and often are the result of the ductus, a small opening between the left and right arteries above the heart, remaining open. A murmur due to an open ductus usually disappears within a few weeks. In preemies, the ductus may remain open and require closure at a later date. Unless the ductus is causing significant problems for the newborn, closure is usually not attempted for six months to a year. Heart murmurs may arise in the first few days of life from the change in circulation. When a child is born, the body begins to circulate blood in the opposite direction. This new form of circulation may cause an initi