human
My doctor says I have a heart murmur, and I'm worried. What is a heart murmur?
assistant
A heart murmur is an abnormal sound heard during a stethoscope exam. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including a leaky valve in the heart or a hole in the heart wall. The severity of a murmur can range from a barely audible whisper to a loud, grating noise. In some cases, a murmur may even be heard without using a stethoscope.