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Is S4 heart sound normal in older adults? What you need to know

While the S4 heart sound is sometimes dismissed as a benign finding in older adults, research indicates it is more often a marker for underlying cardiovascular disease. In fact, a study in the *Journal of Cardiac Failure* concludes that the S4 is typically a pathological finding in older patients due to an abnormally stiff left ventricle [1]. This raises a critical question: *Is S4 heart sound normal in older adults?* And what should you do if it is detected?