Heart Murmur

How is the condition diagnosed?

Heart murmurs are usually detected during a physical exam when the healthcare provider listens to the heart with a stethoscope. The type of sound heard can often help suggest the cause of the murmur.

Other tests may also be done to help figure out the cause of the murmur. A heart tracing, called an ECG, is commonly done. A chest x-ray may also be performed to see if the heart is enlarged or abnormal. An echocardiogram, an imaging test that uses sound waves to view the heart, may also be done. Blood tests may be used as well. A test called an arterial blood gas, for example, can measure the level of oxygen in the blood.