From this article you will learn: what is the heart rate in children the norm by their ages, in what states does the pulse slow or increase, how to determine the heart rate.
Contents of the article:
- Normal heart rate in children
- How to calculate heart rate in a child
- When to call a doctor
- When to monitor the pulse in children
Heart rate( heart rate) is the number of beats per minute. The definition of this indicator provides important information to doctors about the state of human health.
Normal heart rate on ECG in adult Due to anatomical and physiological characteristics of the body, in children the normal heart rate is higher than normal in adults. The smaller the baby, the higher the frequency of heart contractions. As you grow up, the heart rate in children gradually decreases, reaching normal values for an adult person. Also the baby's pulse depends heavily on age, stress level and physical activity.
Sometimes infants may develop heart rhythm disturbances, manifested by irregularities, increased or decreased heart rate. To assess the danger of these conditions, you need to know the rate of heart rate in children of different ages.
Pediatricians and children's cardiologists are involved in the problems associated with abnormal heart rate in children.
Normal heart rate in children
The table will give an idea of the heart rate by age.
| Age of | Heart rate during wakefulness, ud./ min | heart rate during sleep, ud./ |
|---|---|---|
| Newborns( up to the 28th day of life) | 100-205 | 90-160 |
| Babies( 1 month - 1 year) | 100-190 | 90-160 |
| Babies( 1-2 years old) | 98-140 | 80-120 |
| Preschool age( 3-5 years) | 80-120 | 65-100 |
| School age( 6-11 years) | 75-118 | 58-90 |
| Adolescents( 12-15 years old) | 60-100 | 50-90 |
In most children and adults, the heart rhythm is regular, that is, when determining the pulse, rhythmic beats are felt with different time intervals between them. However, in children, respiratory arrhythmia is quite common, during which the frequency of contractions increases during inspiration and decreases during exhalation. As this grows older, this phenomenon disappears. The exact cause of respiratory arrhythmia is unknown, but its occurrence is associated with a close relationship between the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Such a violation of children's heart rhythm is a physiological norm, so no treatment is required.
How to calculate heart rate in a child?
To determine the heart rate, you need a clock with a second hand or a stopwatch on the phone. If the baby immediately before the measurement was active( running, jumping, crying), you need to wait at least for 5 minutes, as this time is needed to normalize the heart rate. To feel the pulsation, you need to press two fingers - the index and the middle - to the large artery of the baby. You should not use the thumb of the hand for this, since the pulsation of your own arteries measuring can be mistaken for the pulse.
Places where it's easiest for the children to feel the pulse:
- On the neck( on the carotid artery).Sleepy arteries run from both sides of the neck, to the sides of the larynx. To locate them, place your fingers on the middle of the neck, to the left or right of the larynx, and gently press until you feel a ripple. You can not push the Adam's apple in the Adam's apple. If you fail to feel the pulse, try to do this on the other side of the neck.
- On the wrist( on the radial artery).At this point, the heart rate is measured in most adults. Place your fingers on the base of the baby's thumb and slide them towards the wrist, where it is easy to push up to a sensation of pulsation.
- In the armpits( on the axillary artery).Place your fingers in the armpit so that they feel the baby's humerus underneath. It also manages to feel the pulsation of the axillary artery. This method has proven itself to determine heart rate in infants.
- In the elbow( on the brachial artery).This is the place where heart rate is most often used in infants. Arrange the baby on the back with an elongated hand along the body, upwards with the elbow fold. In this fold, place your fingers on the inside of the baby's hand and feel for the pulsation.
After the pulsation is detected, start counting the number of beats within 30 seconds. Then multiply the number by 2 - this will be the frequency of cuts per minute.
If this method of determining heart rate is very difficult for parents, there is another option. There are applications for smartphones that can determine the heart rate. To do this, you just need to press the baby's finger to the camera's lens.
When should I see a doctor?
If the heart rate is within the age limit, there is no need to seek medical help. There is also no particular reason for concern if the heart rate does not go very far beyond the normal range. For example, rapid heart contractions can be explained by activity( running, jumping) or fright. Unexpressed slowing of the pulse can be observed in children involved in sports.
If the baby's heart beats too fast, you need to wait a few minutes and count the pulse again. If the results are still beyond the age limit, you need to see a doctor.
If other symptoms( fainting, shortness of breath, chest pain) are observed besides an increased or decreased heart rate, you should urgently seek medical help - call an ambulance or take the baby to the emergency room.
When is it necessary to follow the pulse in children?
Normally, it is not necessary to count the heart rate in healthy children. But there are diseases in which parents have to regularly determine the frequency of heart contractions in the baby. To count the heart rate is necessary if he complains about accelerated heartbeat, a feeling of disruption in the work of the heart. Some children describe the feeling of buzzing, vibrating or fluttering in the chest. Most often these feelings are not something serious and are not connected with the heart at all. They may be caused by pain or cramping in the muscles of the neck or chest. However, it is still necessary to calculate the pulse in such situations.
Also determine the heart rate in children in the following situations:
- syncope;
- chest pain;
- breathing problems not related to asthma;
- sudden appearance of pallor or skin grayness;
- blue lip color.
