how serious is a heart murmur

A heart murmur itself is not always serious. Some heart murmurs are innocent, meaning they do not cause any problems or indicate heart disease, while others can be signs of a serious heart condition that may require treatment. The seriousness depends on the underlying cause and whether the murmur is associated with symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or swelling. If a heart murmur indicates a valve problem or other heart abnormality, it might need medical evaluation, monitoring, or sometimes surgery. Innocent murmurs typically do not affect life expectancy, but serious ones related to heart disease require treatment to prevent complications.