Which type of murmur is an indication of aortic stenosis?

Aortic stenosis is characterized by a specific type of heart murmur known as a "decrescendo-crescendo systolic murmur." This type of murmur occurs during systole, when the heart muscles contract and blood is ejected from the ventricles into the aorta. The decrescendo-crescendo aspect refers to the way the sound starts soft, increases in intensity, and then decreases again.

In the case of aortic stenosis, as the left ventricle contracts, the turbulence created by the narrowed aortic valve generates this characteristic sound. The timing and quality of the murmur are important clinical indicators; they typically begin after the initial contractile ejection phase and peak just before the valve fully opens. This distinct pattern is a key identification feature for physicians when evaluating heart murmurs associated with aortic stenosis.

A diastolic murmur is not associated with aortic stenosis; instead, it generally indicates issues within the heart valves, such as aortic regurgitation. Continuous murmurs can suggest conditions like patent ductus arteriosus, which is entirely different from aortic stenosis. A systolic ejection murmur, while it may describe similar sounds during systole, does not capture