Why does my heart beat fast when I run?
Clover answers for ages 4–9, then goes 1 step deeper each time a child asks why.
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Clover says
Your heart is a muscle about the size of your fist. It pumps blood all around your body, and that blood carries oxygen, a part of the air that every bit of you needs. When you run, your body needs lots more oxygen. So your heart pumps faster to send it, and you can feel it thumping.
Checked against Your Heart & Circulatory System (KidsHealth)
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How can I feel my heart working?
Every push of your heart makes a little beat under your skin, called your pulse. Press two fingers gently on the side of your neck or the inside of your wrist. Sitting still, you might count 70 to 100 beats in a minute. Jump around for a bit, count again, and the number climbs!
Checked against Your Heart & Circulatory System (KidsHealth)
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