US News-Healthline describes heart murmurs are rasping, whooshing or blowing sounds produced by the heart as blood flows through defective valves. The heart has two upper chambers and two lower chambers, with valves located between them and the major blood vessels. These valves control blood flow, making sure it flows only in one direction. When these valves do not open or close properly, they cause blood to leak backwards, thus producing noise. Based on a ranking from the American Heart Association, heart murmurs are rated on a 1-6 scale, based on their volume and strength. The lower their rating, the less severe they are and the less they require treatment.
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