The valve's supportive structures may be loose or torn. Or the valve itself may have stretched or thinned. Blood then may leak back in the wrong direction through the valve. Heart Murmur Sounds Click on the sound icons below to hear four of the most common heart valve murmurs. You must have the Basic RealPlayer plug-in to play these audio files.
Valve disease can have several causes.
You may be born with an abnormal valve. Rheumatic fever or a bacterial infection can damage heart valves or your valves may simply wear out as you grow older. The content on this web site is intended to provide you and your family with a better understanding of coronary artery disease, beating heart bypass surgery and endoscopic vein harvesting. This information is not intended as a substitute for an informed discussion with your physician. We encourage you to maintain an open dialogue with you and your primary care physician.