Should You Worry About Your Child’s Heart Murmurs?
Many parents get worried sick when they find out that their kid has heart murmurs. This condition refers to the weird sounds made by the blood flowing through the heart. Some of these noises are very soft, but when you use a stethoscope, you’ll clearly hear them in between the normal "lub-dub" beats. Should this condition be a cause of concern? The short answer is, in most cases, no—but sometimes, yes. The Case of “Innocent Murmurs” In children aged 3 to 7, heart murmurs are often harmless. These usually happen when the blood circulates more quickly through the heart, say when your child is excited or scared. There are three types of innocent murmurs. The first one still murmurs. It’s exactly what it sounds like: a quiet one, which...