How to Approach Heart Murmurs: A Step-by-Step Clinical Framework Every Med Student Must Know

Don’t just hear a murmur—**understand** it! In this practical, systematic video, I’ll teach you *exactly how to start and structure your evaluation of any heart murmur* in a real patient—step by step. You’ll learn the *6 essential characteristics* to assess, plus how to use them to narrow your differential and guide next steps: ✅ *Step 1: Timing* – Is it systolic, diastolic, or continuous? ✅ *Step 2: Location* – Where is it loudest? (Aortic, pulmonic, tricuspid, mitral areas) ✅ *Step 3: Radiation* – Does it go to the neck, axilla, back, or sternal border? ✅ *Step 4: Intensity* – Grade I–VI using the Levine scale ✅ *Step 5: Pitch & Quality* – Harsh, blowing, rumbling, musical, or machinery-like? ✅ *Step 6: Dynamic Maneuvers* – How does it change with:  • Respiration (↑ on inspiration = right-sided)  • Valsalva, squatting, handgrip, or position (e.g., left lateral decubitus for MS) 💡 Bonus: – Red flags that suggest *severe or acute pathology* – How to distinguish *benign vs. pathologic murmurs* – Common pitfalls (e.g., missing a soft diastolic murmur of AR) Perfect for medical students, interns, and residents preparing for wards, OSCEs, or cardiology rotations #HeartMurmurs #CardiacAuscultation #PhysicalDiagnosis #MedEd #MedicalStudents #Cardiology #ClinicalSkills #HeartSounds #MurmurAssessment #BedsideMedicine