The regular resting heart rate for a one-to-three-year-old is 70 to 110 beats per minute, according to the Kids Health website. Medical professionals consider a heart rate greater than 110 beats per minute to be elevated. A lot of young children’ heart rates will remain at the lower part of this variety, however a number of conditions can cause tachycardia– an unusually quick heart rate– in young children. If your child experiences long term or routine episodes of enhanced heart rate, it is necessary to take him to his doctor for an evaluation.
Causes of Increased Heart Rate in Toddlers
Certain conditions can compel your child’s heart to work more difficult to supply her body with oxygen. A toddler’s heart rate will enhance with workout or activity. Fever can also cause tachycardia due to the greater energy needs of her body organs during illness. Stress, specifically worry and anxiety, can likewise cause a raised heart rate. If your toddler experiences difficulty breathing, due to asthma, viral illnesses like croup or allergic reactions, you may likewise observe an increase in her heart rate.
Considerations
Your child’s diet can likewise influence his heart rate, according to Dr. Hasan Abdallah of the Children’s Heart Institute. Due to picky eating patterns, numerous young children fall short of iron and establish anemia– a condition defined by a lower-than-normal variety of red blood cells. Given that the red cell bring less oxygen than normal, your toddler’s heart needs to work more difficult to supply oxygen to the brain.
How Is Increased Heart Rate Diagnosed in Toddlers?
If your child routinely experiences tachycardia, it is necessary to learn the cause. The American Heart Institute shows that the treatment of arrhythmias– or abnormal heart rhythms– in children depends upon its type. Sinus tachyardias, the typical increases brought on by disease or exercise, typically need no treatment and deal with by themselves as soon as you identify and remedy the cause. Unusual arrhythmias brought on by heart issues may require treatment with medications or surgery.
Expert Insight
The most typical unusual arrhythmia in children, according to the American Heart Institute, is supraventricular tachycardia, which causes a fast heart rate including both chambers of the heart. The institute provides peace of mind that this condition is not a life-threatening issue for young children or adults. A lot of medical professionals just use medication to treat the condition if your child experiences prolonged or regular episodes.
Caution
Ventricular tachycardia– an arrhythmia that comes from the lower chambers of the heart– is often a sign of underlying heart disease. The condition seldom occurs in children, but can be life-threatening. Diagnosing and assessing the condition typically needs specific screening, including intracardiac electrophysiologic procedure– an invasive test in which medical professionals place electrodes within the heart.
