Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Children's health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Teen boy low heart rate detected

28 replies

Minimink · 27/01/2024 20:36

DS is almost 16, for long enough he's always complaining of feeling tired, dizzy and unwell. I've always put it down to being a teen that's burning the candle at both ends, stressed from school or other usual teenage angst.

This week again he's saying he isn't feeling well with various non specific symptoms and a new symptom of insomnia, so I took him to the GP to get him checked over. While the GP was chatting to him he started doing the usual obs but looked concerned. DS's heart rate was 51, he repeated this a few times and it stayed the same. DS now has to go back to the surgery to have an ECG and bloods.

I have a fingertip pulse monitor at home and have been taking a reading since his heart rate is between 48 and 52 at best. The GP asked about any family heart issues and both his GF's had heart issues young. His paternal GF had a triple heart bypass at 33.

I've tried to look online but I'm now freaking out a little. The GP we saw said a resting heart rate as low as his was not normal for a boy of his age. DS is quite sporty but no athlete so I don't think that is the cause of it being so low.

OP posts:
Hellocatshome · 27/01/2024 20:45

Ah I was going to say was it exercise enduced bradycardia but you say he isnt that sporty. Hopefully they get to the bottom of it for him.

User2356542 · 27/01/2024 20:51

Could it be a form of congenital heart block? It might have been overlooked as a baby/child as they tend to have higher bpm than adults.

Do you have any history or symptoms of autoimmune disease, specifically Sjorgens (dry mouth/eyes) or Lupus (joint pain, hair loss, systemic issues)? Both of those are strongly associated with an antibody that causes heart block in the fetus during pregnancy. If this sounds likely then get yourself tested for Anti-Ro/SSA antibodies and get DS tested for heart block. It's basically caused by a damaged AV node, which is where the electrical signals for the heart are created. There aren't any physical indicators that will show up on scans.

Original poster
Minimink · 27/01/2024 20:51

Hellocatshome · 27/01/2024 20:45

Ah I was going to say was it exercise enduced bradycardia but you say he isnt that sporty. Hopefully they get to the bottom of it for him.

He plays football and goes to training once a week and plays a game once a week. He is reasonably fit but even in his own words he's no athlete.

I think a lot of his symptoms seem to be worse after playing football too.
He's missed a lot of school because he just doesn't feel well and he's regularly sent home due to feeling dizzy and sick. I feel quite guilty that I've often thought he's been just trying to get out of school and now I'm wondering if maybe I've been too harsh Confused

OP posts:
Original poster
Minimink · 27/01/2024 20:54

User2356542 · 27/01/2024 20:51

Could it be a form of congenital heart block? It might have been overlooked as a baby/child as they tend to have higher bpm than adults.

Do you have any history or symptoms of autoimmune disease, specifically Sjorgens (dry mouth/eyes) or Lupus (joint pain, hair loss, systemic issues)? Both of those are strongly associated with an antibody that causes heart block in the fetus during pregnancy. If this sounds likely then get yourself tested for Anti-Ro/SSA antibodies and get DS tested for heart block. It's basically caused by a damaged AV node, which is where the electrical signals for the heart are created. There aren't any physical indicators that will show up on scans.

That's really interesting - he doesn't have any of the symptoms you have mentioned. His symptoms have been dizziness, tiredness, confusion and feeling off colour. This last week as well as those he's saying inside his mouth is itchy and sore, and he's having difficulty sleeping.

OP posts:
OhBeAFineGuyKissMe · 27/01/2024 20:59

My teen son has the opposite. Very fast heart rate, always over 100 and once was 124 at the gp.

It is worrying when it is the heart. But reassuringly they treat it with respect. You can get the ecg at you gp and if anything is found you get a referral.

My son got a 3 day ecg and an echo pretty quick and nothing found. He just has a very fast heart rate.

I hope your investigations have a similar good outcome.

Original poster
Minimink · 27/01/2024 21:02

OhBeAFineGuyKissMe · 27/01/2024 20:59

My teen son has the opposite. Very fast heart rate, always over 100 and once was 124 at the gp.

It is worrying when it is the heart. But reassuringly they treat it with respect. You can get the ecg at you gp and if anything is found you get a referral.

My son got a 3 day ecg and an echo pretty quick and nothing found. He just has a very fast heart rate.

I hope your investigations have a similar good outcome.

He is having his ECG at the doctors surgery next week, he's also having bloods done to rule out anything like anaemia.
I'm not sure if it is related but he also has Raynauds that is obviously quite bothersome for him at the moment.

OP posts:
Mumaway · 27/01/2024 21:07

That is a completely normal resting heart rate for a fit teenage boy. But doing an ECG is sensible to look for other arrythmia

Original poster
Minimink · 27/01/2024 21:19

Mumaway · 27/01/2024 21:07

That is a completely normal resting heart rate for a fit teenage boy. But doing an ECG is sensible to look for other arrythmia

I agree it is but I'm worried about him having symptoms that I've disregarded for quite a while.

Hopefully it won't be anything sinister and he's just fitter than he realises.

OP posts:
Whoopaday · 27/01/2024 21:21

There are sessions run by CRY, cardiac risk in the young where you can go and get an ECG Done, they come to schools etc.

If the GP suggests cardiology, if you have the funds go private as the wait is a long time and he would have to go to general paediatrics first.

Get a pulse oximetry and blood pressure cuff and measure it when he’s feeling dizzy/sick at home. The GP sounds good and is taking it seriously

Original poster
Minimink · 27/01/2024 21:37

Whoopaday · 27/01/2024 21:21

There are sessions run by CRY, cardiac risk in the young where you can go and get an ECG Done, they come to schools etc.

If the GP suggests cardiology, if you have the funds go private as the wait is a long time and he would have to go to general paediatrics first.

Get a pulse oximetry and blood pressure cuff and measure it when he’s feeling dizzy/sick at home. The GP sounds good and is taking it seriously

I have a blood pressure monitor and pulse oximetry at home so will definitely monitor him when he's feeling dizzy.
The GP we saw was really thorough with him beating in mind we didn't go in there thinking there was any heart issue, I was thinking he would be brushed off with a virus or they'd say it was something to do with puberty.

OP posts:
User2356542 · 27/01/2024 23:05

Minimink · 27/01/2024 20:54

That's really interesting - he doesn't have any of the symptoms you have mentioned. His symptoms have been dizziness, tiredness, confusion and feeling off colour. This last week as well as those he's saying inside his mouth is itchy and sore, and he's having difficulty sleeping.

Show quote history

Those symptoms actually apply to you as the heart block is caused by harmful antibodies passed from the mother to baby during pregnancy. So if you have any Sjorgens/Lupus symptoms then definitely bring it up to with the doctor. Less than 10% of babies will display any symptoms aside from the heart issue.

But interestingly, Raynauds IS a symptom of Lupus so if your son has signs of those then please chase up the autoimmune disease route.

Original poster
Minimink · 28/01/2024 09:23

@User2356542 I also have Raynauds 🤔 Thankyou your information is really helpful.

OP posts:
Original poster
Minimink · 28/01/2024 18:03

He's now told me when he's worn his Apple Watch that is always has detected a low heart rate daily, however he took no notice of it because he didn't understand what it meant.

Today he's mentioned an annoying pain in his chest but he's been sat gaming all day so I'm thinking it's possibly muscular due to the posture he has while sitting there.

OP posts:
Menomeno · 28/01/2024 18:10

Try not to over worry. How is his blood pressure? My resting pulse is 48-54 and I’m prone to fainting. I do zero exercise and I’m a slightly overweight middle-aged woman. I’ve been checked numerous times and nothing abnormal has been found. My blood pressure is on the low side, which accounts for the dizzyness/fainting if I get up quickly or stand still for more than a few minutes. I suspect I’m hypothyroid though my bloods always come back ‘low end of normal’. Has he had his thyroid checked?

Original poster
Minimink · 28/01/2024 18:15

GP did his BP the other day and that was fine. I'm assuming thyroid is getting checked when he has his bloods taken.

I'm trying to keep positive and it's probably just his normal. His families heart issue history on both side worries me though.

OP posts:
Original poster
Minimink · 28/01/2024 20:07

I've just checked his BP at home using our monitor and it keeps detecting an irregular heartbeat. His pulse has gone from 47 to 95 then back down again while he's been sitting next to me. I think I'll be contacting my GP again tomorrow

OP posts:
LiftyLift · 28/01/2024 20:26

If he has an Apple Watch, make sure he takes an ecg as the cardiologists can look at it. It saves to the phone.

If he is having a continuous episode of an irregular beat, take him to A and E as they will send him for a twelve lead ecg if they suspect an arrhythmia.

I have an arrhythmia and it took a long time to get diagnosed.

momoftwo11 · 28/01/2024 20:32

I knew someone (an adult) who found out via Apple Watch their heart rate was really low. I'm sure he told me it turned out to be a B12 definciency. Hopefully it's something simple like that. At least you know now and it's being looked into. Hope you get to the bottom of it

Original poster
Minimink · 28/01/2024 20:43

He has an Apple Watch he hasn't worn it for a while but I've just gone through the data stored on his phone and his heart rate has been 50 and below for the last year. It's peaked at 200 but I'm guessing that's when he's been playing football.

I didn't realise you could do an ECG on them, I'm going to dig it out and put it on him now.

OP posts:
Original poster
Minimink · 29/01/2024 10:36

Back to the GP this morning as I've explained his symptoms over the weekend and they want to see him again.

OP posts:
Whoopaday · 29/01/2024 16:59

How did it go OP?

Original poster
Minimink · 29/01/2024 18:01

He was sent to hospital. They did all his obs and an ECG. His Heart rate was still very low but the ECG was normal. He has to have bloods done at our GP and is waiting an outpatient appointment to have a 24 hour holster fitted.

OP posts:
Parsleyslocker · 28/09/2025 14:28

Hello, how did your son get on? Mine had similar symptoms and a CRY screening in 2019 showed he had a bicuspid aortic valve. It was mild at the time, annual checks at Royal Brompton, now revealed the regurgitation was moderate to severe and he is having open heart surgery to repair in a month

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 28/09/2025 15:08

Is he very tall? DS was similar at 14. He passed out at school and ended up
in A&E, which triggered all sorts of investigations. As he is tall and thin, and his reach longer than his height (or the other way round) he was investigated for Marfan’s Syndrome. In the end Marfan’s was eliminated, as was everything else other than having a child sized heart in an adult sized body. His heart seems to have caught up. He’s had no symptoms/episodes for a year or 2.

Original poster
Minimink · 28/09/2025 16:48

Everything was ok in the end, ECG was normal. They seemed to think because he plays a lot of sport that he just has a naturally low heart rate.

OP posts: