What is important to know about the pulse in children. Pulse rates for children of different ages What is the pulse of a 6-9 year old child?

The pulse in children is formed in the same way as in adults. The blood that the heart pumps into the aorta causes vibrations in the arterial walls, which are transmitted to the large arteries. However, the properties of the pulse in children, especially its frequency and rhythm, are quite different from the same indicators in adults.

Norm for children

Depending on the age, the child’s body experiences different needs for nutrients and oxygen. Intensive metabolism and features of heart rate regulation lead to the fact that children have a higher heart rate than adults under the same conditions. In general, the younger the child, the faster his pulse. The only exception is newborns, whose heart rate is slightly lower than that of children in the first weeks of life.

Heart rate table for children by age from birth to 15 years:

The normal pulse rate for children is given at rest. If a child cries when this indicator is determined, is cold, or, for example, has recently eaten, the indicators may differ from normal. The same applies to ECG data - do not panic if the child’s heart rate during this study is higher than normal. Doctors look for unusually slow heart rates, as well as disturbances in the heart's normal rhythm, which can be detected on an ECG.

What pulse should a child have:

• it must correspond to the indicators of normal, mild tachy- or bradycardia given in the table;
• it can be somewhat arrhythmic, while being associated with the phases of breathing;
• it should be clearly palpable on the carotid artery (on the anterolateral surface of the neck below the angle of the jaw);
• There should be no long pauses or interruptions.

When determining the pulse in children, you can often notice that it is irregular. During deep inhalation, its frequency increases, while exhaling it decreases. This phenomenon is called respiratory arrhythmia. It is associated with a constant change in the regulation of the heartbeat under the influence of the autonomic nervous system and numerous nerve endings in the walls of blood vessels that sense pressure and oxygen concentration in the blood (baro- and chemoreceptors).

Respiratory arrhythmia is a type of sinus arrhythmia. This is the normal heart rate for children of any age, as well as for adults. This is not a disease and does not require treatment or observation by a doctor.

The variability of heart rate in children is more pronounced than in adults. When recording a cardiogram, the doctor measures the intervals between heartbeats. If the intervals between them differ by more than 10%, they speak of sinus arrhythmia, and if there is a clear connection with breathing, they speak of respiratory arrhythmia. In children, respiratory arrhythmia may be accompanied by a change in the intervals between heartbeats of up to 30%, and this is absolutely normal.

Tachycardia

Having compared the child’s pulse with the norm by age, parents sometimes note a rapid heartbeat and, as a result, a high pulse. This may be due to the child’s physical activity, an increase in his body temperature, but sometimes it is a sign of heart disease.

Sinus tachycardia is an increase in heart rate caused by increased activity of the sinus node. This collection of nerve cells in the wall of the heart is a kind of battery that regularly sends an electrical signal to the myocardium. These impulses cause the heart muscle to contract. If a child has a rapid pulse and sinus tachycardia is recorded on the ECG, it is necessary to exclude anemia and lung malformations. In other cases, this increase in heart rate is usually caused by physiological reasons.

The table below shows pulse rates that are considered too high for a child and, depending on the degree of increase, tachycardia can be: mild, moderate or severe.

Other types of high pulse in children do not occur constantly, but in periods, attacks, or, as doctors say, paroxysms. In childhood, supraventricular tachycardia may occur. It manifests itself as a sudden increase in heart rate of more than 140 beats per minute. After some time (from a few seconds to several hours or even more), the attack suddenly stops.

Such paroxysms of supraventricular (supraventricular) tachycardia in children are most often caused by the following diseases:

• congenital heart defects;
• Ebstein's anomaly (severe developmental disorder of the heart with severe pulmonary hypertension and oxygen deficiency);
• Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

Supraventricular tachycardia does not pose an immediate threat to life. However, the attack must be removed, and the child must be consulted with a cardiologist.

Ventricular tachycardia is more dangerous in children. At this age, it is observed very rarely and is usually associated with congenital heart defects, and in older children - with severe inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis), for example, after an acute respiratory infection.

Bradycardia

Unlike a rapid pulse, which is usually not a symptom of serious illness, its slowdown should alert parents and the doctor. For moderate and severe bradycardia, it is necessary to at least register an ECG. According to the results of examination for bradycardia, the following disorders are usually revealed:

• sinus node dysfunction and sinoatrial blockades (often with age, such disorders resolve on their own);
• atrioventricular block II – III degree; with complete blockade (III degree), the child needs a pacemaker.

Low heart rate (the number of heartbeats must coincide with pulse fluctuations) for children from 0 to 15 years. Depending on the degree of decrease in pulse according to the table, bradycardia can be: mild, moderate and severe.

How to check a child's pulse

Steps for determining pulse:

• ask the child to rest while sitting for 10 minutes; during sleep, the pulse can slow down significantly, so measurements are taken only when awake;
• the pulse can be checked in the carotid artery, on the wrist, as well as in the popliteal fossa, dorsum of the foot, groin area and ulnar fossa with the arm extended;
• take a watch with a second hand;
• ask the child to place his hand on the table in front of him, palm up;
• Place two fingers on the inner surface of the wrist and feel for the pulse;
• count the number of pulse waves per minute.

In children, it is better not to count the pulse rate for 15 - 20 seconds and then multiply by 4 and 3, respectively, since they are characterized by significant sinus arrhythmia. When counting the pulse over a short period, the error in its determination increases.

Symptoms of pulse irregularities

You can assume that a child may have an abnormal heartbeat based on the following symptoms and complaints:

• dizziness;
• sudden weakness;
• complaints of palpitations;
• chest pain;
• sudden blueness of the lips or an attack of shortness of breath.

If such complaints appear, you can first measure the child’s pulse yourself, and then consult a doctor.

Diagnostics

If a child has a pulse deviation from normal values, the pediatrician will prescribe a general examination to exclude non-cardiac causes of the pathology - anemia, infection, etc. The child is sent for an ECG. This test does not always provide the information you need because the recording lasts a short time and pulse (and heart rhythm) disturbances may be inconsistent.

If rhythm disturbances are suspected, the child is prescribed 24-hour ECG monitoring. This test is completely safe and can be performed on babies from birth. Disposable electrodes are attached to the baby's front chest and connected to a small recording device using a wire. The next day, the electrodes are removed, the recording is deciphered using a computer program and analyzed.

Daily ECG monitoring during changes in a child’s pulse allows you to:

• determine the maximum, minimum, average heart rate per day, per night, per day and its compliance with the age norm; this, for example, makes it possible to exclude pathology if a child cries during a doctor’s examination or an ECG;
• identify paroxysmal rhythm disturbances, for example, with WPW syndrome, which can lead to a temporary significant increase in heart rate;
• determine the number of pauses in the heart and find out whether there are indications for installing a pacemaker.

In adolescents and young adults, transesophageal electrophysiological testing is also used to diagnose the causes of a sudden increase in heart rate. It consists of stimulating the heart using an electrical signal that comes from an electrode placed in the esophagus. The study is informative for diagnosing sinus node dysfunction, WPW syndrome, and supraventricular tachycardias.

In the case of paroxysmal rhythm disturbances in children, the following treatment options are possible:

• taking antiarrhythmic drugs;
• radiofrequency ablation of additional pathways for WPW syndrome;
• pacemaker implantation.

If it is known that the child has supraventricular tachycardia, it is possible to stop its paroxysm at home without administering medications using the so-called vagal tests:

• take a deep breath and strain;
• Dip your face into a bowl of cold water.

Measures such as massaging the carotid artery area or pressing on the eyeballs are not recommended in children. They can cause an excessive slowing of the pulse and even temporary cardiac arrest.

Author of the article: Practicing physician V. O. Chubeiko. Higher medical education (Omsk State Medical University with honors, academic degree: “Candidate of Medical Sciences”).

The pulse in children is a very important indicator characterizing the state of the body. That is why parents need to familiarize themselves with the age-related characteristics of normal heartbeats.

Deviations from normal values ​​are diagnostically informative and indicate the presence of serious diseases.

An increase or decrease in heart rate (HR) characterizes a malfunction of this organ and the child’s body as a whole.

General information

The general condition directly depends on the proper functioning of the heart. Important characteristics of the latter are beat frequency and pulse strength.

The normal heart rate is not the same for people of all ages. Even in childhood, these indicators are different for infants, kindergarteners and schoolchildren. Only after reaching 15 years of age do adolescents have values ​​that correspond to the average for adults.

It should be noted that heart rate is a variable value and largely depends not only on the age of the child, but also on factors. For example, the pulse is influenced by physical activity, emotional mood, natural phenomena and the presence/absence of pathological processes in the body.

Normal indicators

A feature of the heart rate in childhood is the tendency to reduce the number of beats per minute.

A clear example of this is the values ​​​​indicated in the table by age, where there are indicators corresponding to different age categories.

After 15 years, the average heart rate reaches values ​​considered normal for adults and is set in the range of 60 - 90 beats/min. In the future, these indicators are considered acceptable until old age.

What factors can lead to deviations

The pulse rate in children primarily depends on their age category. In newborns, the highest values ​​are considered normal.. As the child gets older, the heart rate gradually decreases, and this is also considered normal.

Pulse indicators are quite unstable states. These values ​​may vary in the background:

• general condition of the child;
• changes in body temperature;
• physical fitness of the body;
• emotional state;
• overweight or underweight child;
• body position and time of day during.

Minor deviations are observed during prolonged stays in a stuffy room or during very hot weather.

Deviations from the norm appear at any age, but they do not always indicate pathological problems in the child. In order not to miss the development of serious diseases associated with an increase or decrease in heart rate, you should regularly monitor these indicators.

Causes of age-related changes in heart rate

A careful study of the table makes it possible to trace the fact that in infants the frequency of strokes is almost twice as high as in adolescents. But already from the age of 12-13 years, the pulse decreases significantly and is almost no different from the values ​​​​in adults.

The reasons for this phenomenon lie in the following physiological features of the formation of organs and systems:

• changing ability of the heart to push out a certain volume of blood;
• a significant increase in the length of the vascular system;
• violation of vascular elasticity.

A big role in the process of heart contractions belongs to the changes that occur with the weight gain of the organ.

The heart of a newborn baby weighs no more than 20 - 30 g. With one push, it can remove no more than 3 - 4 ml of fluid. Whereas in an adult, as a result of cardiac contraction, 75-80 ml of blood is pushed into the circulatory system, and the organ itself weighs almost 250 g.

This difference underlies the higher heart rates in toddlers and the leveling off during adolescence.

Influence of other factors

The state of the heart rhythm is affected not only by emotional overload and the effects of summer stuffiness.

Acceleration of beat frequency

Physical activity contributes to this condition. They are accompanied by an increase in heart rate by 3 to 4 times. Such deviations are considered normal if they are temporary and associated with physical activity or the performance of the labor process.

Slowing heart rate

A low pulse against the background of a calm state and without deviations in well-being is observed in children with stronger heart muscles, and indicates the good physical shape of the child.

For example, in teenagers who play sports, the heart rate can drop to 45 beats/min. This is not a pathology.

What diseases do high rates indicate?

In addition to conditions where deviations from the norm are not a sign of disease, situations arise that indicate serious pathological processes.

Increased heart rate

Fatigue and general weakness associated with pathology of the vascular system can be accompanied by a high pulse even at rest. This indicates the possibility of tachycardia or arrhythmia.

Among the reasons causing an increase in heart rate relative to normal values ​​by 15-18% are:

• exceeding permissible physical activity;
• low blood hemoglobin;
• inflammatory process accompanied by an increase in temperature;
• heart failure;
• diseases of the endocrine system;
• pathologies of the respiratory organs.

This situation requires mandatory examination and adequate treatment.

How to normalize indicators

Abnormal heart rate in children is a dangerous symptom if it occurs frequently and is not associated with physical activity or emotional arousal.

The risk associated with heart rate deviations from the norm can be minimized by following simple recommendations:

1. It is necessary for the child to do simple physical exercises every day. The load increases gradually. It is enough to devote 20 to 30 minutes a day to classes.
2. A mandatory preventive measure is a long stay in the fresh air.
3. Walking and active games on the playground have a beneficial effect on the condition of the heart muscle.
4. A balanced diet rich in vitamins and essential microelements is the key to good vascular condition.
5. It is not recommended to include fatty, fried, spicy and very salty foods in your baby’s menu.
6. Maintaining a daily routine. You need good sleep, no stress, a dose of watching TV shows and computer games. This will also have a positive effect on the general condition of the child.

Simple steps will help you reduce your high heart rate at home.

Here are some of them:

1. Free the neck and chest area from tight clothing to allow air access.
2. Lie quietly, relaxing your whole body.
3. Use your palms to gently press on closed eyelids for 5-10 seconds.

There are special medications to reduce heart rate. However, their use is allowed only as prescribed by a doctor.

Slow heart rhythms

In contrast to a rare pulse when children who are actively involved in sports feel well, a decrease in readings may indicate bradycardia when the following symptoms appear:

• instability of blood pressure;
• fatigue and weakness;
• dizziness;
• unhealthy complexion.

A deviation of the pulse from the norm in this state of health becomes an indication for correcting the situation after a thorough examination.

Measurement methods

It must be taken into account that heart rate indicators are different in a state of active wakefulness, sleep and at the moment of awakening. In infants, the heart rate increases during feeding and with prolonged loud crying.

Therefore, it is better to measure your heart rate after a night's rest or daytime sleep..

In infants this is easy to do by feeling the artery on the temple. The vessels in the wrist area are a good area to measure the pulse in older children.

It is not necessary to count the shocks within a minute; 30 seconds will be enough. The result is then multiplied by two. However, this method will not give accurate indicators if the baby has arrhythmia. Therefore, it would be wiser to take a stopwatch and accurately count your heart beats for one minute.

What do deviations from acceptable limits indicate?

A normal pulse indicates good condition of the heart, vascular system and respiratory organs.

If the contraction frequency differs from normal values, this may be due to incorrect measurement procedures. The measurement should be repeated.

Detection of deviations from the norm during repeated measurements indicates the presence of serious diseases associated with the functioning of the heart muscle and possible disturbances in the functioning of the vascular system. In most cases this is arrhythmia, tachycardia or bradycardia.

In addition, disturbances in heart rhythm indicate the likelihood of the development of pathological processes associated with the respiratory, endocrine or hematopoietic system.

Systematic monitoring of the pulse allows timely identification of negative manifestations in the functioning of the most important organ, on which not only the health, but also the life of the child depends.

Pulse rates in children are much higher than adults due to the characteristics of the developing organism. By focusing on them, you can promptly suspect the development of arrhythmia. An increase in heart rate (HR) is characteristic of tachycardia, and a slowdown is characteristic of bradycardia. Both disorders can be physiological or pathological, depending on the causative factor. If they are detected, it is necessary to show the child to the attending physician to avoid the development of complications.

Heart rate is not a constant parameter and depends on many factors, therefore, when determining the acceptable norm for children, the following nuances must be taken into account:

• physical activity;
• the presence of other pathologies;
• the body's reaction to weather conditions;
• psycho-emotional state.

The highest number of heart rates is in newborns. Their heart beats 2 times faster than that of adults. By the age of one year, the rate begins to decline. Closer to 15 years, the heart rate rate stabilizes. Increased heart rate is observed only after 50 years, when age-related changes take effect.

Premature infants have a labile pulse. Any stress (screaming, feeding, stress) increases heart rate. It is advisable to measure it in the morning, as sleep helps you relax. If the child was brought to the doctor, then the heart rate should be calculated at the very beginning of the examination.

In addition to counting the number of pulse waves per minute, small children have their respiratory rate (RR) measured. This indicator is important for assessing a child’s development. Newborns breathe approximately 50-60 times per minute. A five-year-old child already makes no more than 30 breathing movements in a similar period of time.

An increase in the number of heart beats per minute during adolescence is associated with an increase in hormonal activity during puberty. Any stress and overload against the background of hormonal activity cause changes in heart rate. The child begins to feel signs of arrhythmia in combination with symptoms of vegetative-vascular dystonia (VSD). As he grows older, his condition normalizes.

According to the famous pediatrician E. O. Komarovsky, a slight deviation of heart rate from the norm is characteristic of virtually all children. It should not be considered dangerous, because it is often associated with training, stress, family conflicts and other factors. With age, the baby’s body will become stronger and will be able to withstand various irritants.

Effect of physical activity

During exercise, your heart rate increases. For example, after 20 squats or when walking, it rises by about 15-20%. Parents should ensure that the pulse remains within normal limits. To determine it, it is necessary to subtract the age of the young athlete from 220. The resulting value is the maximum allowable. If the pulse approaches it, then you should rest.

Against the background of tachycardia, blood pressure may rise slightly, which will manifest itself in a corresponding clinical picture. The return to normal should occur after 10-15 minutes of rest. If heart rate remains at the same level or decreases extremely slowly, then it is necessary to reconsider the training program.

Initially, it is better to start with basic exercises and gradually add new exercises to it. It is advisable to contact your pediatrician for advice on how to properly increase the load. You can calculate it yourself using the Karvonen method, knowing your pulse before the lesson and before its completion. If the parameters match, then the training program should be adjusted. The minimum heart rate is calculated using the formula: ((220 – age) – heart rate before training) * 0.5.

Features of pulse counting

Experienced parents understand that it is important to know not only what the child’s pulse should be, but also the features of its determination. Measurement is carried out in 3 ways:

The child must lie down during the measurement to avoid distortion of the results. You can evaluate pulsation using the following criteria:

• contraction frequency;
• rhythm;

• fullness of the vessel;
• degree of tension.

In the absence of pathologies, the intervals between pulse waves are the same, the rhythm is stable, the vessel is full, and the tension is moderate. The presence of suspicion or non-compliance with any of the criteria becomes a reason to go to the doctor. He will tell you what the child’s pulse should be normally and conduct an examination, based on which he will refute or confirm the presence of an abnormal heartbeat.

Features of bradycardia

A heart rate slowing below 50 beats per minute indicates the presence of bradycardia. It is characterized by the following symptoms:

• arterial hypotension (low blood pressure);
• paleness of the skin;
• general weakness;
• attacks of dizziness.

Rare attacks will not particularly harm the child, but if they occur frequently, the likelihood of developing heart failure increases. Timely assistance can change the situation.

Arrhythmia is divided into pathological and physiological forms. The first occurs for the following reasons:

• myocarditis;
• myocardial infarction;
• high intracranial pressure;
• hypotension;
• exposure to medications;
• hypothyroidism;
• heart block.

Physiological bradycardia is a consequence of the influence of the following factors:

• prolonged exposure to the cold;
• impact on reflex zones;
• constant physical activity.

Only pathological bradycardia should be treated. Its physiological form will go away on its own if the irritating factor is eliminated.

Features of tachycardia

When the heart rate increases even at rest, we are talking about pathological tachycardia, which occurs for the following reasons:

• infectious diseases;
• oncological pathologies;
• disruptions in the hormonal system;
• cardiac ischemia;
• pathologies of the nervous system;
• hypertonic disease;
• developmental defects.

If the pulse stabilizes after 5-10 minutes of rest, it means that the child is worried about the physiological form of tachycardia. It is a consequence of such factors:

• influence of high temperature;
• pain;
• stress;
• exposure to drugs;
• physical overload.

The following symptoms accompany palpitations:

• lack of air;
• uncontrollable fear;
• pulsation of cervical vessels;
• dyspnea;
• arterial hypertension;
• dizziness;

• insomnia;
• pain in the heart area;
• irritability;
• feeling of heartbeat.

Physiological tachycardia is considered normal, since sinus rhythm is maintained and the attack goes away on its own. It is enough for parents to protect the child from the irritating factor. Its pathological form is much more dangerous. It is characterized by rapid development of complications. Treatment will be aimed at eliminating the cause.

Tables of acceptable age limits

The number of heart beats per minute is affected by age-related changes. The normal pulse rate of a 5-year-old child is already half that of a newborn. This phenomenon is associated with the gradual development of the body. Over the years, the heart muscle grows and it no longer needs to contract as often as before. Heart rate stabilizes and changes only under the influence of various factors.

You can see the normal heart rate for children by age in the table:

You can even hear the heartbeat of a fetus developing in the womb using an ultrasound machine. The norms for gestational age are usually as follows:

A child's heart rate changes rapidly as they grow. Stabilization occurs closer to 15-16 years. Knowing how many pulse waves there should be per minute, you can avoid the development of many diseases and detect arrhythmia in a timely manner. If symptoms of tachycardia or bradycardia are detected, it is necessary to show the child to a pediatrician or cardiologist so that a specialist can conduct an examination and prescribe an examination. The results obtained will help determine the causative factor.

One of the most important indicators of health is the proper functioning of the heart and blood vessels. The pulse in children characterizes its condition. In any disease, the heart muscle reacts to disturbances by changing heart rate. It is important to monitor your pulse regularly in childhood. When measuring heart rate, the child must be at rest and in the same position for each measurement.

Features of heart rate in childhood

The pulse indicator is assessed not only by heart rate, but also by fullness and rhythm. A common phenomenon in children aged 2 to 11 years is respiratory arrhythmia, which is not considered a pathology. With it, the heart rate jumps when you inhale and decreases when you exhale. During the examination, to exclude pathologies, the child is asked to hold his breath for a short time. If there are no heart diseases, then the pulse will be smooth, and pathological arrhythmias will not be detected. The phenomenon goes away on its own as the body develops. The teenager no longer experiences respiratory arrhythmia.

Heart rate in sleep

During sleep, a physiological decrease in heart rate occurs due to a general slowdown of all processes in systems and organs. The pulse rate in a one-year-old child and older decreases to 70-50 beats per minute. Up to one year, the norm for a sleeping baby is 80 beats. The older the baby, the lower his heart rate will be during sleep. If your heart rate drops below 50, you should consult a doctor.

Factors leading to changes in heart rate

In the absence of pathologies, physiological deviations in the child’s pulse rate are possible by 10% upward or downward. Certain factors influence this:

1. Floor. In girls, the pulse is 3-5 beats higher, which is due to the physiological characteristics of the body.
2. Physical activity and emotional outburst. When exposed to such factors, breathing increases and blood pressure increases, which provoke an increase in heart rate.
3. Puberty. At this time, there is an active change in the hormonal status in the body, leading to the fact that the heart rate increases by 10-12 beats per minute. When sexual formation is completed, the pulse level is restored. Hormonal changes in adolescents begin at different ages, ranging up to 2 years.
4. Aerobic sports. It is noted that the majority of children involved in such sports, as a result of regular training over the age of 12 years, experience a decrease in heart rate. This is due to the fact that their heart becomes stronger and can push out a larger volume of blood in one contraction. The feature persists into adulthood. Under particularly intense loads, the phenomenon is observed as early as 10 years.

The heart rate in children in all of these cases is considered normal when it is to a certain extent outside the average, so treatment is not required.

Pathological causes of increase and decrease

Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia) occurs in children for a number of pathological reasons that can appear at any age. The main factors causing high heart rate include:

• heat;
• anemia;
• heart disease;
• pathologies of the respiratory system;
• dehydration;
• autonomic disorders;
• excessive production of thyroid hormones;
• congenital heart defects (depending on the form, they can also cause a decrease in heart rate).

In such situations, it is necessary to provide the patient with medical assistance to eliminate the pathology that has caused the pulse to increase and its indicators to go beyond age norms.

Bradycardia (low heart rate) in children, regardless of age, can also occur due to provoking pathological causes. A decrease in heart rate indicates that the child has one of the following phenomena:

• disturbance of electrolyte balance in the body;
• severe brain diseases;
• a number of infectious lesions of the body;
• poisoning with toxins of chemical origin;
• myocarditis;
• insufficient functioning of the thyroid gland;
• congenital heart defects (some forms)

During the general examination, a child’s pulse is determined without fail, since its indicators characterize the child’s health and vary depending on his condition. If tachycardia or bradycardia is detected, additional examination is carried out to determine their cause.

How is it measured?

There are three ways to determine your heart rate:

1. Palpation is the most common and simple method of reading the pulse, which does not require special equipment. To determine the pulse, the index and middle fingers are applied to the artery: in children under 1 year old - carotid or temporal, in older children - radial (on the wrist). The fingers are held on the artery for 15 seconds and the blows are counted. The resulting number is then multiplied by 4 to determine the number of heart beats per minute.
2. Auscultation - the pulse is listened to using a tonometer in parallel with blood pressure measurement.
3. Using heart rate monitors and sphygmographs. The result is displayed in the form of a graph.

It is important that before measuring the pulse the child remains calm for at least 15 minutes.

It is also necessary that when determining the heart rate, the child is in the same position each time. Doctors recommend measuring the pulse while the child is lying down, since at this moment the body is minimally affected by factors that cause physical stress and compression of blood vessels and veins. Under such conditions, a normal pulse will be determined for the specific condition of the child being examined.

Fetal heart rate

The heart begins to form from the 2nd week of embryonic development. The pulse occurs after the primary atrial septum develops, which occurs during the period of 4.5-5 weeks of gestation. The pulse cannot yet be detected with a conventional ultrasound machine. Gender does not affect heart rate, and its changes are associated only with developmental stage.

The fetal heart rate is important for monitoring its normal development.

Norms by age

Depending on the age of the child, the heart rate also changes. In infants born prematurely, due to the incomplete formation of all systems and organs, the heart rate in the first six months of life may be 20-30 beats higher than in full-term children, which is considered normal. The most convenient way to combine the indicators by age is in a table.

From the age of 15, heart rate is compared with the norm in adults and reaches 70 beats per 1 minute at rest.

Some fluctuations in heart rate and blood pressure during the day are normal and should not be alarming, as long as your heart rate does not drop too low or rise too high.

What to do during an attack of tachycardia

After severe physical exertion or a violent emotional outburst, a child may develop an attack of tachycardia, which leads to a sharp deterioration of the condition. The duration of the attack ranges from 3 minutes to 3 hours. It is also possible to repeat several attacks with short breaks between them. In this condition, the child needs medical help. Before the ambulance arrives, parents should:

• put the baby to bed;
• ensure a high-quality supply of oxygen;
• cold on the forehead – for children from 3 years old;
• cool drink, optimally clean water;
• calm the child down, switching his attention to something completely different.

The adult at this moment should be as calm as possible so as not to aggravate the child’s emotional state with his excitement. The attack requires mandatory medical attention, but does not pose a serious danger to the child’s life, although it looks frightening.

What to do with bradycardia

Bradycardia in children does not occur in the absence of prerequisites and does not cause attacks. A violation is detected during regular pulse monitoring. If a pathology occurs, the child is given a full examination and, based on its results, treatment. The vaccination schedule in such a situation is selected individually.

Children's heart rate should be monitored regularly. It is influenced by various factors, which must be taken into account when determining heart rate. Deviations from the norm that appear regularly require a mandatory visit to the doctor.

Pulse is an important indicator of the health status of every person, especially children. After all, deviations of heartbeat parameters from the norm can indicate the development of quite serious diseases. In what cases should you sound the alarm, and when do changes in the pulse indicate the correct course of physiological processes?

Pulse and the need to measure it

Pulse or heart rate is a jerky vibration of the walls of blood vessels caused by contraction of the heart muscle. It is the main indicator of heart function. Pulse is assessed using several parameters:

1. Rate is the number of heartbeats per minute. This value is the most significant when assessing the state of the body. It depends on many different factors, and girls' hearts beat faster than boys'.
2. Rhythm. The length of the intervals between heartbeats is measured. If they are equal, the pulse is considered rhythmic, otherwise - arrhythmic.
3. Filling is the amount of blood in the vessel. Determined at the peak of cardiac contraction. The pulse is distinguished:
   • moderate is the norm;
   • full - above normal;
   • empty - barely audible;
   • thread-like - poorly defined.
4. Voltage. Assessed by the force with which the artery is compressed. There are:
   • moderate;
   • solid;
   • soft.

The obtained indicators make it possible to assess the quality of the cardiovascular system and the body as a whole, as well as to suspect the development of a number of diseases in the early stages. An absolutely healthy child has a rhythmic, full, and moderately tense pulse.

We recommend conducting the Ruffier test annually, that is, calculating the coefficient based on indicators at rest, after 30 squats and a 5-minute rest. It allows you to determine the permissible physical activity for a particular child, because exceeding it can lead to dire consequences.

Measurement Rules

The measurement is carried out using three methods:

1. By palpation. The method involves assessing basic parameters and counting the number of heart beats in 15 seconds by placing the index and middle fingers on a large blood vessel. In newborns and infants, the carotid or temporal artery is chosen for measurement; in older children, it is already possible to count on the radial artery. In the second case, the fingers are placed 1–2 cm above the skin fold at the wrist, since it is in this place that the radial artery passes closest to the skin. The obtained calculation results are multiplied by 4, thereby obtaining the number of heartbeats per minute.
2. Special devices. To determine heart rate, heart rate monitors and a sphygmograph can be used, which displays the result in the form of a graph.
3. Auscultation. The pulse is listened to with a tonometer.

If a child is diagnosed with arrhythmia, the number of heartbeats is always counted within a minute.

Indicators in children during sleep, immediately after waking up and while awake are different. The most suitable time for making calculations is the moment of waking up. To accurately determine a child’s heart rate, measurements must be taken several days in a row at the same time.

Body position also affects the performance. When a person stands or sits, the pulse increases, so to obtain reliable data, measurements are taken after the child is put to bed.

The heart rate is not calculated immediately after eating food and in a cool room.

Heart rate norms for children of different ages - table

What should the fetal heart rate be?

In cases where doctors have doubts about the health of the mother and the fetus developing in her womb, the pregnant woman may be offered an absolutely safe study - cardiotocography (CTG). It involves attaching two sensors to the abdomen that continuously take readings of the child’s heart rate over a period of 30–60 minutes.

CTG is usually performed from 32 weeks of pregnancy.

A decrease in the child’s pulse to 70 beats per minute or lower indicates hypoxia, that is, oxygen starvation. In such cases, the woman is hospitalized, and depending on the cause of the disturbance in the supply of oxygen to the fetus, she is prescribed treatment. If it is unsuccessful, the question of inducing labor is raised, since prolonged hypoxia leads to developmental delays.

Causes and symptoms of slow heart rate

A low heart rate may indicate bradycardia. It is diagnosed if the pulse is consistently less than the age norm by 30 beats per minute or more.

• This disease is often accompanied by a decrease in blood pressure and manifests itself:
• pale skin;
• frequent dizziness;
• weakness;

rapid fatigue.

If a child’s heart rate is constantly below normal, you should definitely contact a pediatric cardiologist and undergo the necessary examinations, since the lack of timely correction of the condition can lead to the development of heart failure.

• hypothyroidism;
• Bradycardia often accompanies:
• myocarditis;
• autonomic disorders;
• congenital heart defects;
• brain damage;

poisoning with heavy metals, nicotine, drugs, etc.

The only case where low heart rates are considered normal and even a sign of fitness of the cardiovascular system is among athletes.

But if, despite regular exercise, the child feels weak, complains of dizziness or loses consciousness, this is a reason to contact a cardiologist. Causes and symptoms of increased frequency

• Constantly exceeding the normal resting heart rate by more than 20% is called tachycardia.
• This may indicate:
• anemia;
• thyrotoxicosis;
• diseases of the cardiovascular system, in particular myocarditis, endocarditis, cardioneurosis, rheumatic carditis;
• infectious diseases accompanied by increased body temperature;

pathologies of a pulmonary nature;

vegetative-vascular dystonia.

The pulse always quickens under stress, emotional tension, overwork, overheating and dehydration.

Also, the heart always beats faster during active physical work, and the greater the load, the higher the heart rate, which is the norm. But if it goes beyond the upper limit of acceptable values, this is a reason to abandon the chosen sport or reduce the load.

• Normally, after physical activity, the heart rate returns to normal values ​​within 3–4 minutes.
• feeling of rapid heartbeat;
• dizziness;
• headache;
• darkening of the eyes;
• noise in ears.

Ways to normalize the condition in children

If the heart rate deviates from the norm in children, you need to provide the baby with peace, but it is better not to do anything else on your own, since there are many reasons for the heart to increase or slow down, and incorrectly selected medications or folk remedies can provoke a sharp deterioration in the condition.

The only thing that can be done with tachycardia is to close your eyes, take a deep breath and try to exhale through your nose and mouth, which are pinched with your hand.

Pulse in children - video