Ace the 2025 CCRP Challenge – Pump Up Your Cardiac Rehab Skills!

Heart murmurs are sounds produced by turbulent blood flow within the heart, often associated with structural abnormalities. Common causes of heart murmurs include valve defects and congenital issues.

Valve defects can refer to the malfunction of the heart's valves, which can be due to conditions such as stenosis (narrowing) or regurgitation (leakage), both of which create turbulence as blood flows through the heart. Congenital heart defects, which are structural problems present at birth, can also lead to abnormal blood flow patterns, resulting in murmurs. These abnormalities may affect the heart's chambers, wall separations, or the valves, leading to additional strain and abnormal sounds as blood travels through the heart.

By understanding that murmur origins are often tied to structural issues in the heart rather than lifestyle factors or systemic conditions, it emphasizes the importance of assessing cardiac anatomy and function when a murmur is detected. This focus directs attention away from factors like blood pressure or cholesterol, which, while important in overall heart health, do not directly lead to the mechanical conditions that cause heart murmurs.