Mitral stenosis causes which type of heart murmur?

Mitral stenosis results in a diastolic heart murmur due to the narrowing of the mitral valve, which impedes blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle during diastole. As the left atrium contracts, it generates turbulence and creates a distinct sound that is typically described as a low-pitched "rumbling" murmur. This murmur is best heard with the patient in the left lateral decubitus position, which brings the heart closer to the chest wall and enhances the auscultation of these sounds.

In contrast, systolic murmurs occur during the contraction of the heart, typically associated with conditions such as aortic stenosis or mitral regurgitation, while continuous murmurs are heard throughout the cardiac cycle and can be seen in conditions like patent ductus arteriosus. Therefore, the association of mitral stenosis specifically with a diastolic murmur is a key point in understanding the hemodynamic changes and associated clinical manifestations in patients with this condition.