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Children's health

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Heart rate

2 replies

BestZebbie · 22/08/2025 16:14

My 10yr old DS did a science experiment today involving checking your resting pulse and then trying different exercises and seeing how the pulse rate goes up afterwards (standard stuff - jogging on the spot raised it more than yoga, etc).

However, on the most strenuous exercise he tried (running up and down the stairs - he was visibly hot and panting by the end) his pulse rate was low - lower than resting in some cases - all three times he measured it immediately after the activity. He was using a digital blood pressure cuff which also shows pulse and all the other readings seemed to be just what I'd have expected - his mean resting pulse was 63, which is low but in the 60-100 range and BP seemed normal throughout.

He said he felt fine other than being out of breath (and that cleared up within a minute or so) and he had been drinking mouthfuls of water throughout the various activities - what could have caused this and from your own experiences, do I need to make a GP appt to have his heart investigated off the back of this?

Google is not being very helpful, suggesting everything from it being a sign of super-fitness to imminent heart attack and most stages in between.

OP posts:
MassiveOvaryaction · 22/08/2025 18:33

Did he only check his pulse with the monitor? Or did he do it manually, fingers on wrist or neck and count using a stopwatch?

Only monitors can be unreliable, especially with faster heart rates ime.

Arlanymor · 22/08/2025 18:36

Young children often have a low heart rate when exercising, particularly sporty ones, because their heart pumps blood more efficiently. Providing he is not dizzy there is nothing to worry about.

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