Finding out you or your child has a heart murmur can be terrifying especially when your mind immediately jumps to the question: “Can this kill me?”
Here’s the direct, evidence-based answer you came for:
The overwhelming majority of heart murmurs cannot kill you and require no treatment at all. In fact, up to 90% of children and about half of all adults will have an innocent (harmless) heart murmur heard at some point in their lives.
That said, a small percentage of murmurs are caused by underlying heart conditions that can become serious and in very rare cases, even fatal if left undiagnosed and untreated.
Keep reading for clear answers, statistics, symptom checklists, and what actually happens when you come to our offices for an evaluation.
What Exactly Is a Heart Murmur?
A heart murmur is simply an extra or unusual sound heard between normal heartbeats. Think of it like water whooshing through a garden hose instead of flowing silently. The sound comes from blood moving through the heart’s chambers and valves faster or more turbulently than usual.
Cardiologists listen with a stethoscope in specific spots on the chest. They describe murmurs by three key features:
- Timing: systolic (between the “lub” and “dub”), diastolic (after the “dub”), or continuous (throughout the heartbeat).
- Loudness: graded on a 1–6 scale. Grade 1 is barely audible; grade 6 is so loud it can be heard with the stethoscope barely touching the skin.
- Location and radiation: where the sound is loudest and whether it travels to the neck, back, or armpit.
Most innocent murmurs are soft (grade 1–2), change with position, and disappear when a child holds their breath. Abnormal murmurs are often louder, don’t change with position, and may come with other unusual heart sounds.
In short: a murmur itself is just a noise. It’s what’s causing the noise that determines whether it’s harmless or serious.
Can You Die from a Heart Murmur?
No, most people cannot die from a heart murmur because most murmurs are completely harmless and do not shorten life expectancy at all.
Innocent heart murmurs, which make up the vast majority of cases, pose no threat to your health or lifespan. They are simply normal variations in blood flow and require no treatment.
However, abnormal heart murmurs caused by structural heart problems can, in rare and severe untreated cases, lead to life-threatening complications such as heart failure, dangerous arrhythmias, or sudden cardiac events.
The risk of sudden death from an abnormal murmur is very low in adults, far less than 1% according to American Heart Association data but it is higher in infants with severe untreated congenital defects.
The key factor is early detection and proper management. With today’s advanced diagnostics and treatments available in the United States, even serious abnormal murmurs rarely prove fatal when addressed by experienced cardiologists.
Prevent heart problems before they start – Schedule a preventive checkup
Contact UsInnocent vs. Abnormal Heart Murmurs:
Understanding the difference between innocent and abnormal heart murmurs is crucial for answering whether a murmur can be dangerous. Here’s a clear comparison:
| Feature | Innocent (Harmless) Murmurs | Abnormal (Potentially Serious) Murmurs |
| Prevalence | Very common: 70–90% of children, ~50% of adults at some point | Less common: usually linked to heart conditions |
| Causes | Normal fast blood flow (growth spurts, pregnancy, fever, exercise, anemia) | Congenital defects, valve problems (stenosis/regurgitation), endocarditis, cardiomyopathy |
| Grade (Loudness) | Usually grade 1–2 (soft) | Often grade 3 or louder |
| Timing | Mostly systolic; may change with position or breathing | Can be systolic, diastolic, or continuous; often fixed |
| Symptoms | None — discovered on routine exam | Shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, swelling, fainting, poor growth in children |
| Risk of Complications | None — no impact on lifespan | Possible if untreated: heart failure, arrhythmias, infection risk |
| Treatment Needed | None — often resolves on its own | Monitoring, medication, or valve repair/replacement |
| Prognosis | Excellent — normal life expectancy | Excellent with treatment; varies if untreated |
This table shows why most people diagnosed with a murmur can breathe easy: the innocent type far outweighs the abnormal.
How Deadly Is a Heart Murmur?
Heart murmurs themselves are not a disease, they’re a sign. For the vast majority of Americans, that sign points to nothing dangerous.
Below, we break down key U.S. statistics on prevalence, mortality risks, and outcomes, drawn from the American Heart Association (AHA), CDC, and major studies.
Prevalence of Heart Murmurs in the U.S.
- Up to 90% of children have an innocent (harmless) murmur detected during routine exams.
- About 50% of adults will have an innocent murmur at some point, often during pregnancy, fever, or exercise.
- Overall prevalence in general populations: 23–36% for any murmur, rising with age (e.g., 31% in those over 70).
Mortality Risks: Innocent vs. Abnormal Murmurs
- Innocent murmurs: 0% increased mortality risk. No impact on lifespan; they often resolve naturally.
- Abnormal murmurs: Linked to underlying conditions like valve disease. Crude mortality rate from heart diseases: 140.4 per 10,000 person-years (vs. 34.9 without murmur), a 4x higher crude risk. After adjusting for CVD risk factors, relative risk (RR) drops to 2.2 for heart disease death.
- Sudden cardiac death directly from undiagnosed murmurs: <0.1% in adults; higher (~1–2%) in untreated infant congenital cases, but U.S. newborn screenings catch 95%+ early.
Long-Term Outcomes and Trends
- 5-year survival for treated abnormal murmurs (e.g., aortic stenosis): >80%, often near-normal lifespan with interventions like TAVR.
- Overall heart disease mortality (including murmur-related): Declined 66% from 1970–2022 (761 to 258 per 100,000), thanks to better detection and care.
- Lifetime risk of heart failure (a potential murmur complication): 1 in 5 Americans; but with management, 5-year mortality is ~50%, rivaling some cancers yet treatable cases fare far better.
These stats highlight why early evaluation matters. In New Jersey and the New York metro area, access to advanced cardiology keeps risks minimal even for abnormal murmurs.
Can a Heart Murmur Cause a Heart Attack?
No, a heart murmur itself does not directly cause a heart attack. A heart attack occurs when blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked, usually by plaque buildup in the coronary arteries.
However, certain underlying conditions that produce abnormal murmurs can indirectly increase heart attack risk over time.
For example, severe aortic valve stenosis, a common cause of murmurs in older adults, forces the heart to work harder. This extra strain can contribute to coronary artery disease or reduced blood flow to the heart muscle.
Conditions like infective endocarditis (which can cause murmurs) may also lead to emboli that block coronary arteries, though this is rare.
Innocent murmurs have no connection to heart attacks whatsoever.
How Long Can You Live with a Heart Murmur?
People with innocent heart murmurs can expect a completely normal lifespan. These murmurs do not affect heart function, cause symptoms, or raise risks for other conditions. Many resolve on their own, especially in children.
For abnormal murmurs, life expectancy depends on the underlying cause and how quickly it’s treated. With proper management in U.S. cardiology centers, most patients achieve near-normal lifespans.
For instance, treated valve conditions like aortic stenosis often allow patients to live 10–20 more years or longer, thanks to procedures like valve replacement.
Untreated severe cases, such as advanced hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or congenital defects, can shorten life by 5–10 years on average due to complications like heart failure.
Prevent heart problems before they start – Schedule a preventive checkup
Contact UsWhen a Murmur Can Become Life-Threatening
While most heart murmurs cause no symptoms, certain signs indicate an abnormal murmur that could lead to serious complications if ignored.
Common warning symptoms in adults include:
- Shortness of breath, especially during activity or when lying flat
- Unexplained fatigue or weakness
- Chest pain or tightness
- Fainting or near-fainting spells
- Swelling in the legs, ankles, or abdomen
- Persistent cough or wheezing
In infants and children, watch for:
- Poor feeding or growth
- Bluish tint to lips, skin, or fingernails (cyanosis)
- Rapid breathing or excessive sweating during feeds
- Frequent respiratory infections
These symptoms suggest the heart is struggling, potentially from valve problems or congenital defects. In rare cases, untreated severe conditions can progress to heart failure or arrhythmias that become life-threatening.
Can a Heart Murmur Be Cured or Fixed?
Innocent heart murmurs cannot be “cured” because they are not a problem, they are a normal variation. In children, they often disappear naturally by adolescence or adulthood as the heart grows.
Abnormal murmurs, however, can often be effectively managed or fixed, depending on the cause. The goal is to treat the underlying condition, not the sound itself. For valve issues like stenosis or regurgitation, options include minimally invasive procedures such as transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), which has success rates over 95% in eligible U.S. patients.
Surgical valve repair or replacement is highly effective for more complex cases, restoring normal heart function and eliminating the murmur in many instances. Congenital defects in children, like septal holes, can be closed with catheter-based devices or surgery, often leading to a complete cure.
Medications may control symptoms from conditions like endocarditis or hypertension, though they don’t always eliminate the murmur.
Diagnosis at Atlantic Cardiovascular
Most murmurs are discovered during routine physical exams with a stethoscope. If our cardiologists hear something unusual, we typically recommend an echocardiogram, the gold standard test for evaluating heart structure and function.
We offer same-day or next-day echocardiograms at our convenient New Jersey locations, using state-of-the-art ultrasound technology to visualize valves, chambers, and blood flow in real time.
Additional tests may include an electrocardiogram (ECG), chest X-ray, stress testing, or advanced imaging like cardiac MRI when needed.
Our board-certified specialists interpret results immediately, explaining whether your murmur is innocent or related to a treatable condition. This efficient approach serves patients throughout New Jersey and the New York metro area.
Early, precise diagnosis provides clarity and prevents unnecessary worry or catches issues when they’re easiest to manage.
Peace of Mind Starts Here
For most people it’s simply a harmless finding that requires nothing more than reassurance from an experienced cardiologist.At Atlantic Cardiovascular, we specialize in distinguishing innocent murmurs from those that need attention quickly, accurately, and compassionately.
Whether you’re an adult concerned about a new diagnosis or a parent worried about your child, our board-certified team is here to provide clear answers and advanced care when needed.Don’t leave your heart health to chance. Schedule a comprehensive evaluation today, including same-day echocardiogram if indicated.
FAQs.
Can you get a heart attack from a heart murmur?
A murmur itself doesn’t cause heart attacks. However, some underlying valve conditions can indirectly increase risk by straining the heart over time.
How deadly is a heart murmur?
Most are not deadly at all. Less than 1% of abnormal murmurs lead to fatal outcomes in the U.S. when properly managed.
Can you hear a heart murmur yourself?
Rarely. Murmurs are usually only heard with a stethoscope by a trained professional.
Can a heart murmur be cured?
Innocent murmurs often resolve naturally. Abnormal ones can often be fixed through valve repair, replacement, or defect closure procedures..
Is it safe to exercise with a heart murmur?
Yes for innocent murmurs. For abnormal ones, our cardiologists provide personalized exercise guidance after evaluation.
