Kids Complaining of a Racing Heart

Many times, parents report that their children and adolescents complain of a racing heart. Is this something parents should be concerned about and what does it mean? We asked Ryan Jones, MD and pediatric cardiologist at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital. Here's what he had to say.

"Heart racing is completely normal during aerobic activities, like running or playing a sport. It's even normal if your child has recently taken a stimulant medication such as a cough or cold over-the-counter medicine. Anxiety, stress and fear can also cause the heart to race.

Parents can also take their child's pulse to determine the heart rate. To do so, place two fingers near the bony part of your child's wrist and count the pulses per second. If you count 140 beats per minute - or fewer - that's normal for a child or teen. If the heart rate is high, have him or her take slow, deep breaths, and see if that normalizes the heart rate.

Parents should consult their child's pediatrician if the heart racing is occurring at a rest position or if it's accompanied with symptoms like trouble breathing, chest pain or fainting. Even then it might not be heart related. These symptoms sometimes occur in children with asthma or those who are prone to a panic or anxiety disorder. But it's best to have a pediatrician do an exam to be sure. He or she can perform an electrocardiography, or EKG, to determine if there's a heart-related problem."