Have you ever heard your child’s heart make a noise that sounds more like a “whoosh” than the usual “lub-dub?” If so, it may be a heart murmur.
As blood moves through the heart, it sometimes makes an unfamiliar, clearly audible noise. Most of the time, a heart murmur is nothing to worry about. In fact, more than half of all children experience them at some point, and the sound may indicate that blood is simply flowing quickly through the valves. In addition, the sound can be more pronounced in children because they have less fat, muscle and bone to muffle it. As kids grow older, murmurs may disappear.
In rare cases, a murmur could be a sign of a serious problem, so you should consult your child’s physician. Depending on the severity of the problem, heart murmurs can be resolved with antibiotics or surgery.
