What Causes the ‘Murmur’ Sound in Some People’s Hearts?

Sometimes, when the blood in your heart moves faster or in a different way than usual, it makes a soft whooshing sound, that's called a murmur. Think of it like water rushing through a pipe: if the water flows quickly or there's a twist in the pipe, you might hear a noise.

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Examples

A dog’s heartbeat might sound like a soft whoosh because its heart valves don’t always close properly.
If you hold your breath and then suddenly release it, you might hear a whooshing noise, similar to a heart murmur.
A person with a fast heartbeat can sometimes make their own heart sound like a tiny waterfall.

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Categories: Health · heart,cardiology,murmur