Cardiac Subspecialty Certification 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The presence of a heart murmur is primarily indicative of valvular heart disease. A heart murmur occurs when the blood flows through the heart or blood vessels in a turbulent manner, which creates sound. This turbulence can arise from a variety of conditions related to the heart valves, such as stenosis (narrowing of the valves) or regurgitation (leakage of the valves), both of which are forms of valvular heart disease. These conditions alter the normal flow of blood, leading to audible sounds that healthcare professionals can detect during auscultation with a stethoscope.

In contrast, conditions like increased heart rhythm, coronary artery obstruction, and myocardial ischemia may produce other clinical signs and symptoms, but they do not typically manifest as a heart murmur. Increased heart rhythm may be linked to the pace of heartbeats rather than valve function. Coronary artery obstruction primarily affects blood flow to the heart muscle itself, and myocardial ischemia refers to inadequate blood supply to the heart, which is distinct from the sounds caused by abnormal blood flow through the heart valves. Therefore, the presence of a heart murmur specifically points towards issues with the heart valves, making valvular heart disease the most accurate interpretation.