What characterizes benign murmurs?

Benign murmurs are characterized primarily by their short and soft quality, alongside the fact that they are generally asymptomatic. These murmurs can often be found in healthy individuals and do not indicate the presence of structural heart disease. Their physiological origin can arise from situations such as increased blood flow across normal valves, often seen in children or during pregnancy.

Unlike pathological murmurs, benign murmurs do not present any associated symptoms of heart failure or any signs of cardiovascular compromise. The presence of symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, or edema would suggest the need for further investigation, likely indicating a more serious cardiac condition. Therefore, the nature of benign murmurs as being soft and not associated with symptoms underscores their non-threatening nature in a clinical setting.