Matters of the Heart
“Mommy, my heart feels like it’s going to beat out of my chest!” It seems we all hear our kids say something like this when they exert themselves more than usual, but it shouldn’t always be discounted with a pat on the head and a mandatory break from activity. Your child could be experiencing an irregular heartbeat.
Fortunately, arrhythmias — irregular or abnormally fast heartbeats — happen even in perfectly healthy hearts and are common among children. Arrhythmias often have no symptoms, so parents and children may be completely unaware of one until a physician detects one during a check-up.
Telltale Signs
Irregular heart rhythms can be harmless extra beats that occur during rest or physical activity, but your child might be experiencing a more serious problem if symptoms include:
Taking Action
If your child complains that something is not right, a physician may perform an electrocardiogram (ECG) — a non-invasive test that measures the heart’s activity — to search for any serious abnormalities.
“Some types of irregular heartbeat are more severe than others, which can affect what treatment is recommended,” said Kathryn Collins, MD, Pediatric Cardiologist and Director of Electrophysiology at The Children’s Hospital. “While some arrhythmias are not life-threatening, they still should be promptly evaluated. If your child experiences arrhythmias often, medication or surgery may be required to cure the problem.”
To find a physician at The Children’s Hospital, visit www.thechildrenshospital.org and select “Find a Doctor.”
Fast Fact:
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, normal heart rates vary by age. While a newborn’s resting heart rate may be 130 beats per minute, an athletic teenager may have a resting heart rate of only 50 or 60 beats per minute.
