Heart Health
Different types of heart murmurs
Ask the doctor
My 2-year-old grandson has a heart murmur. His pediatrician says it's likely nothing serious and will probably disappear when he's older. What causes heart murmurs in children? Are they different than those found in adults?Many young children have functional heart murmurs, which are usually detected during a routine check-up. These murmurs are simply the sound of blood moving through a normal, healthy heart. They often become undetectable when the child grows up. However, about 10% of adults with normal hearts have these harmless murmurs, which are more likely to be heard when blood flows faster than normal through the heart. This can happen after exercise, but also when people feel anxious or if they have a high fever or severe anemia.
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