Heart Murmurs

The cardiologists at UPMC in Central Pa. use the latest technology to evaluate and diagnose all types of heart murmurs. If your heart murmur requires treatment, we offer a full range of advanced procedures.

Why choose UPMC in Central Pa. for heart murmur care?

At UPMC in Central Pa., we provide a full range of heart murmur care, starting with expert evaluation and diagnosis. The cardiologists at UPMC in Central Pa. will conduct a complete cardiovascular evaluation to find the cause of your heart murmur and determine if further treatment is required. Your doctor may order diagnostic tests to determine if you need additional heart murmur care.

Diagnostic Tests

• Chest x-ray
• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Echocardiogram
• Cardiac catheterization
• Some types of heart murmurs are harmless and do not require treatment. However, if your heart murmur requires further care, we offer surgical and nonsurgical treatment options.

Nonsurgical Treatment Options

• Active monitoring of your heart murmur over a period of time
• Medication to treat cardiovascular conditions such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol

If your heart murmur is caused by a damaged or leaky heart valve, you may need to have surgery. The specialists in our Structural Heart Program perform advanced valve repair or replacement procedures using the latest minimally invasive techniques.

Surgical Valve Repair and Replacement Procedures

• Heart Valve Surgery
• Heart Valve Repair Surgery
• Heart Valve Replacement
• Right Chest Approach Mitral Valve Repair ("Mini-Mitral")
• MitraClip®
• Aortic Valve Repair Surgery
• Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery
• Aortic Root Surgery (David Procedure)
• Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
• Minimally Invasive Tricuspid Valve Repair Surgery

What is a heart murmur?

A heart murmur is an abnormal sound -- such as a whooshing or swishing -- that is caused by blood moving in or around your heart during your heartbeat cycle. Heart murmurs can be congenital, meaning that they are present at birth, or they can develop later in life.

There are two types of heart murmurs. Innocent heart murmurs are harmless and do not require treatment. They usually occur when blood flows through your heart more rapidly than normal and can be caused by:

• Physical activity
• Pregnancy
• Fever
• Anemia, or a shortage of red blood cells
• Rapid physical growth, such as during adolescence

Some abnormal heart murmurs are caused by congenital conditions, but other abnormal heart murmurs can develop later in life. No matter when it develops, an abnormal heart murmur requires follow-up testing and can sometimes indicate underlying heart problems, including:

• Holes in the heart
• Cardiac shunts, which cause abnormal blood flow between blood vessels and chambers of the heart
• Heart valve abnormalities
• Valve calcification, which occurs when heart valves harden or thicken
• Endocarditis, which is an infection of the inner lining of the heart valves
• Complications from rheumatic fever, which is a rare condition that can occur when strep throat is untreated

What are the symptoms of a heart murmur?

A heart murmur is usually detected when your doctor listens to your heartbeat with a stethoscope. Other than what your doctor can hear, which is usually a whooshing or swishing sound, heart murmurs typically don't cause obvious symptoms.

Who is at risk for a heart murmur?

You are more likely to develop a heart murmur if you have a family history of heart defects or certain medical conditions, including high blood pressure, endocarditis, rheumatoid arthritis, a previous or current case of rheumatic fever, or high blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension).

Need more information?

Call the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute office most convenient for you for an appointment.

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Locations

UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute
Located at UPMC Outpatient Center
1251 East Main Street
Suite 3
Annville, PA 17003
Adult Cardiology: 717-731-0101
Pediatric Cardiology: 717-761-0200

UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute
360 Alexander Spring Road
Carlisle, PA 17013
Adult Cardiology: 717-243-6557
Pediatric Cardiology: 717-761-0200
Fax: 717-243-0102

UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute
2020 Technology Parkway
Mechanicsburg, PA 17050
Adult Cardiology: 717-731-0101
Pediatric Cardiology: 717-761-0200
Fax: 717-731-8359 

UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute
900 Century Drive
Suite 100
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
Phone: 717-591-3660 or 800-248-0257
Fax: 717-591-3661

UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute
Located at Medical Professional Center of Newport
300 Bretz Court
Newport, PA 17074
Phone: 717-567-7246 or 800-248-0257
Fax: 717-567-2621

UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute
Located at Brady Building
205 South Front Street
4th floor
Harrisburg, PA 17104
Phone: 717-231-8555
Fax: 717-231-8568

UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute
2808 Old Post Road
Harrisburg, PA 17110
Adult Cardiology: 717-920-4400
Pediatric Cardiology: 717-761-0200
Fax: 717-920-4401

UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute
12 Saint Paul Drive
Suite 205
Chambersburg, PA 17201
Adult Cardiology: 717-217-6881
Pediatric Cardiology: 717-761-0200
Fax: 717-217-6889

UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute
Located at Commerce Park Professional Center
20 Expedition Trail
Suite 203
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Phone: 717-637-1738
Fax: 717-646-7430

UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute
Located at UPMC Outpatient Center
2201 Brunswick Drive
2200
Hanover, PA 17331
Phone: 717-637-1738
Fax: 717-646-7430 

UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute
16324 Mount Airy Road
Lower Level
Shrewsbury, PA 17361
Phone: 717-849-5576
Fax: 717-718-9972

UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute
1600 6th Avenue
Suite 105
York, PA 17403
Phone: 717-849-5576
Fax: 717-718-9972 

UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute
1555 Highlands Drive
Suite 100
Lititz, PA 17543
Phone: 717-299-5000
Fax: 717-431-1205 

UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute (formerly Cardiac Consultants)
1697 Crown Avenue
Suite 100
Lancaster, PA 17601
Phone: 717-299-5000
Fax: 717-431-1205