What causes elevated heart rate in child
Isabella Harris
Updated on April 20, 2026
In children, these values tend to be higher depending on their age. There are a large number of reasons for the heart to beat faster than expected, from simple physiological causes, such as excitement or physical activity, to illness, such as a fever, and a range of diseases of the heart or metabolism.
When should I be concerned about my child's heart rate?
However, if your child is experiencing symptoms such as chest pain or trouble breathing along with a fast heart rate, they may need medical attention. Dr. Kane says a good rule of thumb is if your child’s heart is beating too fast for you to count the beats, then medical help may be needed.
Is it normal for a child to have a racing heart for no reason?
Most palpitations are benign and not a cause for concern. If your child describes his or her “heart racing fast” when not participating in vigorous exercise, that is very unusual. Usually, the child will report a sudden onset and a sudden relief of their sensation of a fast heart rate.
What is considered a high heart rate for a child?
For example, a heart rate of 130 to 150 beats per minute is normal for a newborn infant, but it would be considered fast for a school age child. An athletic teenager may have a heart rate of 50 at rest but could have heart rate of 180 during heavy exercise.What is normal heart rate for a 7 year old?
Normal Results Children 1 to 2 years old: 80 to 130 beats per minute. Children 3 to 4 years old: 80 to 120 beats per minute. Children 5 to 6 years old: 75 to 115 beats per minute. Children 7 to 9 years old: 70 to 110 beats per minute.
What causes teenage tachycardia?
The most common cause of tachycardia in children and teenagers is sinus tachycardia. This simply means that the sinus node is firing at a fast rate. Most of the time sinus tachycardia is a normal physiologic response.
When should you go to the hospital for rapid heart rate?
Most people’s hearts beat between 60 and 100 times per minute. If you’re sitting down and feeling calm, your heart shouldn’t beat more than about 100 times per minute. A heartbeat that’s faster than this, also called tachycardia, is a reason to come to the emergency department and get checked out.
Is it normal for a child's heart to beat fast when sick?
When you’re sick, that bpm is likely a bit higher. Kids usually have a higher heart rate than adults. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) outlined the following average resting heart rates for children: Newborn to 1 month: 70-190 bpm.Does dehydration cause rapid heart rate?
Dehydration causes strain on your heart. The amount of blood circulating through your body, or blood volume, decreases when you are dehydrated. To compensate, your heart beats faster, increasing your heart rate and causing you to feel palpitations.
Can Covid raise heart rate?After you have had COVID-19, if you are experiencing a rapid heartbeat or palpitations you should contact your doctor. A temporary increase in heart rate can be caused by a lot of different things, including dehydration. Make sure you are drinking enough fluids, especially if you have a fever.
Article first time published onIs a heart rate of 115 too high?
You should visit your doctor if your heart rate is consistently above 100 beats per minute or below 60 beats per minute (and you’re not an athlete), and/or you are also experiencing: shortness of breath.
What infections cause high heart rate?
Diagnosis of Sepsis and Septic Shock Doctors usually suspect sepsis when a person who has an infection suddenly develops a very high or low temperature, a rapid heart rate or breathing rate, or low blood pressure.
Is a heart rate of 120 normal?
A normal resting heart rate should be between 60 to 100 beats per minute, but it can vary from minute to minute.
What is a normal heart rate for a 12 year old boy?
Typical normal resting heart rate ranges are: babies (birth to 3 months of age): 100–150 beats per minute. kids 1–3 years old: 70–110 beats per minute. kids by age 12: 55–85 beats per minute.
What heart rate is too high for a 13 year old?
School-aged child (5-12 years): 70-120 bpm. Adolescent (12-18 years): 60-100 bpm.
How do you calm a racing heart?
- Breathe deeply. It will help you relax until your palpitations pass.
- Splash your face with cold water. It stimulates a nerve that controls your heart rate.
- Don’t panic. Stress and anxiety will make your palpitations worse.
Can drinking water increase heart rate?
As well as activating the sympathetic nervous system, water drinking also enhances cardiovagal tone in young healthy subjects. This is demonstrated by a reduction in heart rate and an increase in heart rate variability (20).
What foods raise your heart rate?
Foods that are high in sodium may also cause heart pounding. If you enjoy a lot of processed and canned foods, they could be the cause of your heart palpitations. In addition, eating rich or spicy foods may cause heartburn. A pounding heart often accompanies heartburn.
What symptoms do kids have with Covid?
- Fever.
- Cough that becomes productive.
- New loss of taste or smell.
- Changes in the skin, such as discolored areas on the feet and hands.
- Sore throat.
- Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, belly pain or diarrhea.
- Chills.
- Muscle aches and pain.
Can a Cold raise your heart rate?
Merely having a cold or the flu strains the cardiovascular system. Fighting the illness raises the heart rate and causes inflammation.
Why has my resting heart rate suddenly increased?
This may be because an increased resting heart rate may be a warning sign of a cardiovascular change, like higher blood pressure or early heart disease. Other reasons a resting heart rate may trend upward include a poor reaction to medication, elevated thyroid hormone levels, anemia, or an underlying infection.
What does a high resting heart rate indicate?
A high resting heart rate, or a heart rate of more than 100 beats per minute, means your heart is working extra hard to pump blood through your body.
Does Covid affect your heart?
COVID-19-related inflammation raises the risk of this type of heart attack by activating the body’s clotting system and disrupting the blood vessel lining. When inflamed, this lining loses its ability to resist clot formation. These blood clots in the large and small arteries of the heart cut off its supply of oxygen.
Is a resting heart rate of 120 bad?
For most people, a heart rate of 60 – 100 bpm while at rest is normal. If your heart beats less than 60 times a minute, it is slower than normal. For some people, a slow heart rate does not cause any problems.
Does tachycardia go away?
Tachycardia is often harmless and goes away on its own. However, if your heartbeat won’t return to normal, you need to visit the hospital.
Can you be septic without a fever?
It’s clear that sepsis doesn’t occur without an infection in your body, but it is possible that someone develops sepsis without realizing they had an infection in the first place.