A heart murmur is an abnormal sound heard while examining the heart with a stethoscope. Many people with a heart murmur have normal hearts and are still able to exercise and live normal lives. There are many types of heart murmurs. They range from harmless and of no consequence to very serious heart and health problems.
Symptoms related to serious heart murmurs vary.
Some examples include fatigue, pale complexion, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, heart attack, stroke, fever, and arthritic pain in joints. If you have symptoms such as these, seek medical help. Some people with a heart murmur live their whole lives without any problems. Active lifestyles are maintained and aerobic exercise offers added benefits. The heart is a muscle, and like any muscle, it gets stronger with exercise.