My son (13) has abrupt heart rate changes, why?
Question:
My son is too skinny and is shorter than a lot of boys of his age. Please advice me. Thanks
Answers:
It's probably SVT. He needs to see a cardiologist for a 24hr monitor and go to the ER during a racing attack for an EKG. They will only be able to diagnose it during an attack.
In the meantime, keep him out of pools and away from high exertion activities until they give you a firm diagnosis. Some arrythmias are triggered by pools and some by extreme exercise.
He needs to get an EKG, possibly an EKG rhythm strip. 130 beats is not all that fast, could even be just sinus tachycardia.
You can take him to a heart doctor and they will see what's wrong. My sister had the same problem and it was because she wasn't eatting right. Make sure he's eatting right and healthy, and if still problems you should take him to a doctor. Good luck!
He needs to be evaluated by a doctor.
paroxysmal tachycardias (sudden onset and cessation) usually are felt as palpitations in the chest and may or may not cause chest pains. Your boy needs to be reviewed by your Doctor and possibly a referral to cardiologist. It may be caused by accessory pathways (abnormal conductive tissue) within the "electrical" system of the heart. There are many possible causes, check it out with your doc.
Take him to the doctor. They are trained to help people with medical issues. You and I are not doctors:) It could be quite serious!
It's called PSVT- which is a technical term for 'a fast heart rate that starts suddenly, and stops suddenly'. 130 isn't THAT fast though. If you go into the E.R. they may not doing anything right away except, give him IV fluids. Dehydration can cause your heart rate to elevate. If that doesn't work, then they will start to treat him with drugs. Adenosine, which temporarly stops his heart. (He's awake the whole time.) Or, they may cardiovert him electrically. Either procedure is safe, as scary as it sounds.
SVT with no symptoms is easy to treat BUT you have to catch it, so a visit to a Dr. for a Holter monitor, or a trip to the E.R. during an attack is a good idea.
He may be put on meds, he may have a procedure to get rid of some extra pathways in his heart called ablasion. (Not a major surgery, it can be done in a cath lab.) Or, they may do nothing at all, and just have you bring him into the E.R. if it comes up again.
I've seen many pts. with this. None of them have died. It isn't deadly. There are several arrythmias that can cause it, and the only way to know for sure which it is is to catch it on a monitor.
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