heart rate in child

[dee140]

My daughter is 4yrs old and is very tall but then for her age.  I have noticed for some time now that when I place my hand over her chest it feels like her little heart is beating hard and fast.  I have always put that off to her being so thin. . .am I wrong in that particular assumption you think?  If a child is thin would it feel that way?  It has been that way for as long as I can remember with her.  She has not ever complained until recently.  two days ago at my mothers she was outside playing and said her heart was hurting that is was "beating alot".  My mother said that she immediately seemed fine and went back to playing.  Then today she was sitting and playing and then held her chest and said it was beating fast and it hurt.  it only lasted less than a min then she was fine.  Obviously she probably needs this checked but should I be really alarmed?  What would cause this?  I am 30 and was diagnosed with Mytrial Valve last summer.  Could she have something simular?

[6FT2]

"Mitral Valve Prolapse is a common and usually benign condition. " ... Unless you have a connective tissue disorder ;D

[Jerry_NJ]

Good advice from Jackie1980, get your daughter checked.

I don't have the numbers in mind, but I am sure one can find them on the web, for the typical heart rate for children.  At age 4 I'd guess it could be high, even at rest, in the 80 to 100 bpm range may be common.  I too think a thin build would make it easier to "feel" the heart pulse.

We all have a Mitral Valve, and I believe it is possible that Mitral Valve problems can be inherited.  But, I also think most MV problems do not have a high HR as a symptom, unless it has causes an enlargement of the left atrial and caused atrial signal problems.  It may be helpful for you to find out what your Mitral Valve problem is.  Mitral Valve Prolapse is a common and usually benign condition.

[ireneo]

Definitely have her checked out. If it comes and goes quickly, she may have to wear a monitor to "catch" it. Just having a quick 10 second EKG in the office may not tell them what's going on. There are arrhythmias that occur that harmless but can be annoying and interfere with her daily life.

I've had PSVT all my life, even in childhood. That's a type of arrhythmia that starts in the upper part of the heart, makes the heart rate increase very suddenly and then after some time, it will drop back to normal within a heart beat or two. Mine will pop up to 150-198. Some people have it over 200. The good news is that it's fairly harmless.

Just be sure to tell her doctor how often it occurs and how long it lasts (just a good guess). Hope you get the answers you need very soon.

[Jackie1980]

I would recommend getting your daughter's heart checked out by her pediatrician and finding out if she has a heart murmur. If she is saying that she is getting some pain then it is best to get it checked out. My daughter is 5 and she is very thin as well and I can feel her heart beat pretty rapidly (Which is normal in children , especially when they are running..) But it is best to have the dr. check it. My daughter has a heart murmur but at the time I am told that it is innocent..definately get it checked out though..