11yr old complaining of racing heart and pain

[oObyeOo]

It’s happened twice in the past 24hrs. Both at rest.

Once in bed last night her heart raced and thumped for approx 30 seconds. She said it hurt.

Then again this evening for less time.

Never had these symptoms before.

She was trying to blow balloons up yesterday. Do you think this could be related?

I doubt they are related.

Can you count her heart rate?

Next time it happens can you measure her heart rate?

Does it gradually subside or does it go really fast and then almost 'click' back into a normal rhythm?

I suppose it's possible she has strained her chest muscles when blowing up the balloons and that could cause pain and tenderness when breathing - if this is causing her alarm = palpitations.

However, that is just a guess and i have no medical knowledge. At 11 yrs old, her heart is most likely very healthy but i would keep an eye on this and don't hesitate to get it checked out if it does not resolve soon.

There are cardiac conditions that can run in families and be serious. Especially if you have folks in your extended family that have passed young (under 50yrs) very suddenly.

Don't want to alarm you as, even if she does have a heart cond, this isn't a 999 case! Just a routine GP appt in normal hours will be perfectly fine.

I counted it after the fact and it was normal at 60.

It’s tricky to catch during but I’ll try. She’s going to sleep with me tonight

She says it clicks back to normal after a few beats of slower and slower.

Yeah, not a 999. I was tempted to call 111 though. But I suffered from heart palpitations, so know it’s not urgent. I’ll call the dr on Monday.

I don’t think mine are related as mine have come on in perimenopause and I only get them before my period. They started 2yrs ago quite regularly, triggered by the contraceptive implant. I was getting them regularly to start with, but now only before my period.

Could it possibly be related to puberty?

I'd take her to an and e.

If you phone 111 they would automatically send an ambulance due to it being related to her heart.

I've phoned before and had to refuse them.

Could it be anxiety around starting back at school?

She does suffer from anxiety but it’s normally typical stomach ache. Never this before

Would they really?

If I were you I'd go buy an oximeter tomoro from the chemist and pop it on her finger next time she says it's happening and see what her heart rate is. They can be a bit out by a certain number of beats but itl indicate if its gone pretty high, low or is alternating. If you're concerned then get her seen. She may well of pulled a muscle blowing up balloons but I'd still have a means of checking when it next happens.

It does not sound like she needs to go to A&E now.

If she has another prolonged episode, feels unwell etc do seek help, but otherwise would call your GP after weekend.

Apple and other smartwatches have decent apps that can monitor your heart rhythm/rate. Might be worth getting one of these. Would reassure you all f her heart rate was completely normal.duting a funny turn

60 bpm is a low heart rate for a child of 11, is she particularly athletic, doing a lot of endurance sport?

Definitely keep an eye on it, it could be anxiety-related but it's worth being screened for atrial fibrillation - there are various apps that do this, fibricheck is well known. I'd make a GP appt, but in the meantime, if she's showing any symptoms get her to tell you so you can check her pulse for signs of a-fib. If you have a fitbit or similar, you can use that, as long as it's a fairly recent model.

If it continues It might be worth speaking to your GP about SVT (super ventricular tachycardia)
I was diagnosed as an adult but children can have it.
Although very scary it’s a benign condition where your heart beats very very fast for a few seconds then slows right down before returning to normal. It’s quite hard to diagnose as it’s a random thing that happens at anytime so I had to wear a heart monitor for a few days which picked it up.

I work in paediatric cardiology. You can be reassured by the fact that only 0.1% of children who present to A&E with chest pain have a heart problem causing their pains.

Palpitations are also very common in this age group. It’s more reassuring that they are happening at rest. Symptoms on exertion are much more concerning than symptoms at rest.

as a previous poster asked is there a sudden onset? Does she look or feel unwell at the same time.

atrial fibrillation is extremely rare in children, supraventricular tachycardia is relatively common. If your daughter is feeling generally well I wouldn’t worry overnight.

My daughter was diagnosed with a right bundle branch block around 12, OP. She started having palpitations, bumpy chest, arrhythmia. It’s not dangerous and typically, children tend to outgrow it. I’m a cardiac patient who leads a normal life. But I’ve survived one cardiac arrest already. When it comes to the heart, get it looked into.

It’s worth taking her to the GP next week and discussing the possibility of an ECG and/or 24 or 48 hour holter monitor.

A quick question: Has she been drinking any energy drinks?

Thank you.

Yeah, she’s very healthy and athletic. But she’s also tall, similar height to a 13-14yr old.

Thank you. No, she’s well in herself. No other issues atm or during an episode.

No, but she has had a larger than normal sugar intake this past 48hrs as the grandparents are here and it was her brother’s birthday! She drinks decaf tea occasionally but is not allowed caffeine type energy drinks.

I’m very tall, OP, as was my grandfather. Both of us lifelong AF badge wearers. When I was much younger, my cardiologist explained that taller people are at a higher risk of AF. If it’s of some comfort, I spent my youth on the track and field team, long distance running, ballet… every dance class available I did. I’ve had AF for as long as I can remember. At 47 years old my artery dissected and tore. So, it took me that long to have a significant problem. Most people go through life uneventfully with AF. I’m 52 now and recovered from that tear (and the cardiac arrest it came with!).
But definitely get her looked at. Like my own daughter, knowing about her condition has helped. It’s rare in a child that it will be anything life changing. I only asked about energy drinks because they absolutely set my daughter’s heart off. She had one with a friend one day and it really affected her heart rate.

Thank you! I can’t drink coffee or alcohol as it sets my heart off too. I’m going through tests atm, but it’s so slow going. ECG here, another slightly longer one there. It’s frustrating!

The wait is frustrating. I get an annual cardiac MRI/MRA scan (which is really every two years by the time it’s done but that’s ok). The consultant rang me last week to discuss the results… 10 months later. I figure if I’ve got a pulse and I’m upright, there’s more right with me than wrong. 😆
It’s hard not to worry though.
Good luck with your own testing, OP! I hope you get a clean bill of health and the reassurance you deserve.