Rapid heartbeat and congenital heart defects
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Rapid heartbeat and congenital heart defects
Babies and children normally have a faster heartbeat than adults. Normal heartbeat ranges for children are listed in the table below.1
| Age | Beats per minute |
|---|---|
| Premature | 120 to 170 |
| 0 to 3 months | 100 to 150 |
| 3 to 6 months | 90 to 120 |
| 6 to 12 months | 80 to 120 |
| 1 to 3 years | 70 to 110 |
| 3 to 6 years | 65 to 110 |
| 6 to 12 years | 60 to 95 |
| 12 years | 55 to 85 |
When congenital heart defects lead to heart failure, the heart rate is often much faster than normal. Some heart defects make it harder to get enough oxygen into the blood from the lungs, while others make it harder for the heart to pump enough blood out to the body. Either kind of problem can cause the heart to beat faster as it tries to get enough oxygen-rich blood to the body.
Some heart problems cause the heart rate to be slower than normal. Heart block refers to an abnormality in the way electricity passes through the normal electrical pathways of the heart. The abnormality "blocks" the electrical impulse from continuing through the normal pathways and usually results in a slower heart rate. Heart block may be present from birth, but in general slow heart rates are not common for congenital heart defects. Slow heart rates are more likely to be from heart problems that happen after birth, such as when a severe illness damages the heart muscle.
References
Citations
Mathers LH, Frankel LR (2004). Pediatric emergencies and resuscitation section of Stabilization of the critically ill child. In RE Behrman et al., eds., Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 17th ed., pp. 279–296. Philadelphia: Saunders.
Credits
| Author | Robin Parks, MS |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman, MATC |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Larry A. Latson, MD - Pediatric Cardiology |
| Last Updated | October 25, 2007 |
| Last updated: | October 25, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Robin Parks, MS |
| Reviewed By: | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics, Larry A. Latson, MD - Pediatric Cardiology |
| Editors: | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC |
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