The mechanism of development of bradycardia in children and methods of its treatment. Sinus bradycardia in children Bradycardia in a 15 year old teenager

In children, cardiac bradycardia is rare. The pathology is characterized by a spontaneous and rapid decrease in heart rate, which falls below the age norm. The disease can be either congenital or acquired. Pathological bradycardia in children is a serious danger. Parents should visit the hospital with their baby in a timely manner and direct all their efforts to eliminate the deviation. Treatment is selected by a cardiologist. Parents can suspect the presence of a disorder in a child based on some indirect signs.

Sometimes bradycardia is diagnosed in children

Factors provoking the disease

The causes of bradycardia must be established in advance. The approach to treatment depends on the provoking factors. Doctors list the most common root causes as:

  • disruptions in the functioning of the nervous system;
  • abnormalities in the endocrine system;
  • hypoxia that occurs after delivery;
  • recent infectious disease;
  • severe hypothermia of the body;
  • improper use of medications or self-medication;
  • poisoning by various chemicals;
  • rapid growth of internal organs;
  • cerebrovascular accident;
  • hypothyroidism

Increased ICP can cause bradycardia

Sometimes bradycardia in children is a consequence of a recent severe fright. In this case, the baby holds his breath for a long period. Your heart rate may drop temporarily before bed. This is a consequence of the emotions and states experienced during the day.

In some cases, the condition is not considered pathological. The patient will not need treatment or see a doctor.

Bradycardia can form after a recent cold. Also, the disease in children can be a consequence of influenza. As a rule, the existing pathology is diagnosed accidentally during a routine examination.

Classification of the disease

Bradycardia in a child is classified according to the source of the impulses. The main types of the disease are described in the table.

The disease is also classified according to the factors that provoked it. In this regard, bradycardia in children can be:

  • pathological;
  • physiological.

The most common form of pathology is sinus bradycardia

A physiological disorder, unlike a pathological one, does not require special treatment. There is no need to seek help from a doctor.

Symptoms of bradycardia in children

To confirm the presence of bradycardia in children, parents should take a closer look at the condition of the patient. The main symptoms of deviation include:

  • prostration;
  • lethargy;
  • severe dizziness;
  • decreased or complete lack of appetite;
  • shortness of breath;
  • difficulty breathing;
  • cold and profuse sweating;
  • loss of consciousness and lightheadedness;
  • blood pressure surges;
  • absent-mindedness and a clear decrease in concentration;
  • painful sensation in the chest;
  • slow pulsation.

One of the signs you should pay attention to is fatigue.

The clinical picture is explained by disturbances in the functioning of the heart. The organ ceases to be able to maintain normal blood flow. Some cells begin to die.

With bradycardia, children experience fatigue even after minor physical exertion.

The skin begins to rapidly turn pale. At school, academic performance decreases as concentration deteriorates and the child becomes distracted.

Bradycardia in adolescents and younger schoolchildren leads to memory deterioration. In this case, children become extremely forgetful. The initial stage of the disease can be asymptomatic. It is almost impossible to detect the disease at the first stage. This happens completely by accident during medical research.

In severe cases, Morgagni-Edams-Stokes syndrome is formed. In such a situation, after a short period of dizziness and obvious pallor, children develop loss of consciousness. The disorder is accompanied by convulsions. In addition, breathing stops and involuntary urination occurs. The heart does not contract at this moment.

If treatment is not started, your lips may turn blue.

In most cases, until the advanced stage occurs, children do not complain about their condition. First of all, signs of general malaise appear. If left untreated, additional symptoms develop. The child develops chronic circulatory failure. Soft tissues begin to swell. The skin around the lips and nose turns blue.

Diagnostic methods

Diagnostics is usually selected on an individual basis. However, usually the complex of studies for bradycardia in children is the same. Young patients are given directions to:

  • urine and blood analysis;
  • test on an exercise bike with a gradual increase in load.

First of all, the doctor takes into account the patient’s complaints. This happens if the child is of a conscious age. Otherwise, parents should report the symptoms present.

First, the doctor studies the medical history. This will help establish the root cause of bradycardia in children.

Children with suspected bradycardia must be examined by an endocrinologist. This is necessary to identify possible disorders of the endocrine system.

You definitely need to do an ultrasound of the heart.

Possible complications

Bradycardia is a dangerous condition that requires qualified treatment. The most common complications of the disease include:

  • cardiac arrest;
  • injury due to loss of consciousness;
  • disruption of blood flow in the brain area;
  • the formation of heart failure;
  • ischemic disease;
  • myocardial infarction.

The consequences of bradycardia in a child are different. If left untreated, there is a high risk of sick sinus syndrome. This condition is manifested by frequent fainting. Immediate surgical treatment may be required.

With bradycardia, children become weak. Every day it becomes more and more difficult for them to carry out their usual duties. One of the most serious complications is heart failure.

What is bradycardia and how it manifests itself in children, this video will tell you about it:

Treatment measures

Treatment of bradycardia is carried out only under the supervision of a doctor. Self-medication is strictly prohibited and can cause additional complications. In the first two stages, therapeutic therapy is not required. The condition normalizes on its own.

Bradycardia of the third stage of neglect requires drug treatment. The most effective medications include:

  • Ephedrine;
  • Caffeine;
  • Atropine.

Auxiliary agents include Eleutherococcus. The dosage of drugs is selected individually by the doctor. The diet of children with illness should include:

  • garlic;
  • walnuts.

Drinking more strong black tea is very beneficial

Also, the child should drink enough black tea. The diet also includes seaweed and seafood. At the initial stages of the pathology, it is allowed to play sports. At the third stage, physical activity is strictly contraindicated.

In case of bradycardia, parents should focus their efforts on restoring the child’s immune system. To do this, it is necessary to include vitamin complexes in treatment.

Preventive methods

Cardiac bradycardia in children is difficult to eliminate. It is easier to prevent a disease than to cure it later.

Preventive measures include:

  • timely diagnosis and treatment of various diseases of internal organs;
  • prevention of physical inactivity;
  • refusal of self-medication and independent dosage changes;

Exercise is useful for preventing bradycardia

Minor patients, especially teenagers, need to be told about the dangers of smoking. This habit can provoke the formation of bradycardia. It is also required that children avoid stressful situations and depression.

Bradycardia in children is a phenomenon in which the heart rate decreases and the indicators are below the permissible limit. In rare cases, such a deviation is considered as a variant of the norm, but usually it indicates dangerous processes occurring in the body.

General characteristics of the pathology

When the heart rate (HR) decreases to levels below the age norm. For each period of child development, these indicators are different.

The following forms of deviation are considered:

  • absolute: the rhythm of the heart muscle is constantly slowed down, regardless of the general condition of the body and the factors that affect it;
  • relative: deviations are observed under the influence of a specific factor, which can be an increase in body temperature;
  • moderate: cardiac arrhythmia is characterized by the appearance of exhalation.

Heart rate norms in children and adolescents

Depending on age, the limits of normal heart rate differ.

  • for newborns, the average heart rate per minute ranges from 110-170 beats;
  • at the age of one month to a year, this figure decreases to 102-162 beats;
  • for children aged from one to two years, the norm will be 94-154 blows;
  • at the age of 2 to 4 years – 90-140 beats;
  • from 4 to 6 years – 86-126 beats;
  • from 6 to 8 years – 78-118 beats;
  • from 8 to 10 years – 68-108 beats;
  • from 10 to 12 years – 60-100 blows;
  • from 12 to 15 years – 55-95 beats.

Heart rate is a variable value that changes under the influence of various factors. A decrease of 20 units or more is considered a manifestation of bradycardia in children.

Risk factors

A decrease in heart rate in children and adolescents is provoked by factors such as:

  • dysfunctions of the nervous system;
  • congenital defects of the heart muscle (septal defects, stenoses);
  • disruption of the endocrine system;
  • pathologies of the thyroid gland;
  • brain tumors;
  • meningitis;
  • intoxication with chemicals (nicotine, lead);
  • rapid development of the heart muscle (typical for teenagers);
  • hypothermia of the body;
  • past infectious diseases;
  • fetal hypoxia during intrauterine development;
  • drug overdose;
  • disturbances of blood flow in the vessels of the brain.

In some cases, isolated episodes of bradycardia in newborns indicate that the child was afraid of something, experienced strong emotions, or held his breath for a long time. Under such conditions there is no reason to worry.

Symptoms of bradycardia in children and adolescents

The deviation manifests itself in the following symptoms:

  • increased fatigue even with minor loads;
  • general weakness;
  • severe shortness of breath after running or playing;
  • pain in the chest area;
  • increased sweating;
  • loss of appetite;
  • fainting states;
  • deterioration in concentration;
  • dizziness;
  • pale skin;
  • swelling;
  • rare pulse;
  • cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle;

These symptoms indicate a violation of the contractility of the heart muscle and associated hypoxia.

Forms

Heart rate disturbances in children can be congenital (if associated with pathologies that arose during the period of intrauterine development of the fetus) or acquired.

Depending on the cause of the development of the pathology, the following types of bradycardia in children are distinguished:

  • . This is the most common type of heart rate disorder. In this case, the heart rhythm, despite the decrease in indicators, is still set by the sinus node.
  • Heterotopic. The disorder occurs when the activity of the sinus node is suppressed. Under such conditions, another part of the heart muscle becomes the conductor of the rhythm. In children, this form of bradycardia rarely occurs.

There are also several degrees of heart rate slowdown. This:

  • mild form (reduction to 50-60 beats per minute);
  • moderate (40-50 beats);
  • pronounced (below 40 beats).

Severe dysfunction requires treatment, since under such conditions disorders develop in the bloodstream.

Diagnostics

To identify bradycardia in children and adolescents, the following diagnostic measures are carried out:

  • counting heart rate by palpating blood vessels in the arm or neck;
  • echocardioscopy;
  • ECG with stress tests (squats, running in place);
  • Ultrasound of the heart muscle;
  • X-ray of the chest organs.

If necessary, the child is examined by an endocrinologist to identify thyroid disorders, as well as a neurologist to identify neurotic abnormalities.

Methods for treating bradycardia in children

Mild and moderate forms of pathology do not require treatment, but if a deviation is detected, the child should be observed by a cardiologist. With such forms of disorder, lifestyle correction is indicated, as well as the use of traditional medicine.

To normalize heart rate in children, you should:

  • Adjust your diet. It is necessary to include in the menu seafood, seaweed, nuts, bananas, dried fruits, vegetable oils, cereal side dishes, fresh and processed vegetables and fruits, legumes, pumpkin and sunflower seeds. A child with heart rate disorders should not drink carbonated drinks, eat sweets, sausages, canned food, smoked meats, or processed foods.
  • Create conditions for an active lifestyle. A child with heart rate abnormalities should under no circumstances suffer from physical inactivity.
  • Exercise in moderation. It is best to give preference to such types of physical activity as yoga, tennis, swimming.
  • Prevent the development of infectious processes.
  • Organize walks in the fresh air more often.

Also, in mild to moderate forms of bradycardia, the following can be used to stabilize the indicators:

  • A mixture of lemon, garlic and honey. You need to take 5 lemons, pour boiling water over them and squeeze out the juice. Add to it 5 heads of garlic and 500 g of honey, as well as the pulp of one chopped lemon. The product should infuse for two days. The finished product should be consumed once a day (preferably before lunch) in the amount of 4 teaspoons 30 minutes before meals. The course of treatment is 2 months.
  • Infusion of yarrow. To prepare the product, you need to take a tablespoon of raw material, pour a glass of boiling water and leave for 20 minutes. After this, strain the infusion. Take a tablespoon of medication once a day, 10 minutes before meals.
  • Valerian infusion. To prepare such a remedy, you need to take 3 teaspoons of crushed plant roots and pour a glass of boiled water. Infuse the liquid for 10 hours, then strain. Take the finished product 15 ml 3 times a day.

In case of attacks of severe weakness or dizziness, it is recommended to give the child a cup of strong tea or coffee. Taking a warm bath and doing light exercises will also help.

In case of severe manifestations of bradycardia, antiarrhythmics are prescribed: Eufillin, Ephedrine, ginseng extract. Medicines and dosage are selected strictly individually by the attending physician.

Is there any danger?

Mild and moderate bradycardia in children does not pose a health hazard.

Absolute slowing of the heart rate in children is dangerous, as the child may experience episodes of loss of consciousness. This is fraught with the possibility of injury, severe bruises, including the brain.

Bradycardia is also dangerous due to the fact that this phenomenon can provoke the development of heart failure. Due to weakness and frequent dizziness, which manifests itself as a violation of heart rate indicators, the child may lag behind in development - both physically and mentally.

Bradycardia in children and adolescents manifests itself in a decrease in heart rate. This phenomenon is associated with various pathologies of internal organs and systems. Mild forms of deviation do not require specific treatment, but children with such a diagnosis should be monitored by a cardiologist.

Rarely, but still there are cases when cardiac bradycardia is noted in children: what kind of disease is this that can be diagnosed at any age? This is a sharp and quite significant decrease in heart rate, going beyond any norms. Bradycardia in newborns is said to occur when the heart rate is reduced to 100 beats/minute; in children from 1 to 6 years of age - up to 70–75 beats; in adolescence - approximately up to 60.

Such a disease does not lead to anything good in the future, so parents should take appropriate measures in a timely manner: consult doctors who will investigate the causes of the pathology and, based on the identified results, prescribe appropriate treatment.

Children's bradycardia can be triggered by various circumstances in the child's life and the state of his own body.

Doctors call the most common causes of this disease:

  • disturbances in the functioning of the nervous (neuroses) and endocrine (metabolic failures) systems - especially in adolescence;
  • increased intracranial pressure;
  • a tendency to bradycardia is observed in those children who were diagnosed at birth;
  • infectious diseases suffered by the child;
  • general, fairly severe hypothermia of the body;
  • a large dose of potent medications or their long-term use;
  • often after an ultrasound, even during pregnancy, a diagnosis of “tendency to bradycardia” is made when the fetal heart rate is too low - this is possible if the unborn baby has organic heart disease;
  • lead poisoning, nicotine;
  • rapid growth of internal organs, heart;
  • problems with cerebral circulation;
  • hypothyroidism

Sometimes a child may develop bradycardia if he is very frightened of something or, for some reason, holds his breath for too long. Even just before bed, some children may experience a decrease in heart rate under the influence of events and emotions experienced during the day.

This is a temporary phenomenon, and not a disease; in such cases, doctors are not consulted. Depending on the causes of bradycardia and the general condition of the small organism, several forms of the disease are distinguished.

Types of bradycardia

There are only two main types of this disease in medicine:

  1. Sinus bradycardia - when the impulse from the sinus node is disrupted.
  2. Heterotopic bradycardia.

In addition to these types, there are also several degrees of the disease. For example, mild bradycardia may appear only occasionally; its symptoms are too transparent, parents may not even notice them. It is diagnosed only in laboratory conditions.

Moderate already manifests itself quite clearly, requires treatment, but rarely leads to death and severe complications.

But pronounced childhood bradycardia is already a serious problem, the solution of which must be approached with all responsibility.

Symptoms of the disease

If parents have doubts about whether the child has bradycardia or not, they should monitor his condition more closely. This disease most often manifests itself quite clearly.

Symptoms of bradycardia include:

  • weakness, lethargy;
  • dizziness;
  • poor appetite;
  • shortness of breath, difficulty breathing;
  • cold, very profuse sweat;
  • loss of consciousness;
  • blood pressure surges;
  • absent-mindedness;
  • decreased concentration;
  • fatigue;
  • chest pain;
  • slow pulsation.

These symptoms can be explained simply: the functioning of the heart is impaired - this organ cannot supply the body with blood in the same volume. Due to impaired blood circulation, cells die.

This can lead not only to constant loss of consciousness and exhaustion of the heart muscle: over time it ruptures, which invariably leads to death. To prevent this, you need to consult a doctor in a timely manner and begin the necessary treatment as early as possible.

Treatment of bradycardia in children

If the form of the disease is moderate or severe and interferes with the child’s life, treatment is reduced to a course of medication with antiarrhythmic drugs. These include:

  • ginseng root;
  • belladonna;
  • caffeine;
  • Eleutherococcus extract;
  • isadrin;
  • belladonna;
  • atropine;
  • ephedrine.

All of the listed drugs are selected individually for each small patient. The basis of therapy is the elimination in a short time of the main disease that caused bradycardia. For mild forms, it is possible to use folk remedies, but again only with the permission of the doctor and only if the parents are absolutely sure that their child suffers from just such a disease.

Traditional medicine advises giving to children in the following cases:

  • a mixture of chopped walnuts, sesame oil, sugar, which is poured with boiling lemon solution;
  • strong tea;
  • seaweed and other seafood;
  • infusion of pine branches.

At the same time, we must not forget that a small organism can react to many natural traditional medicines with allergies or individual intolerances, so parents in this case need to be extremely careful. Here is the treatment of mild forms of the disease with sports - a more rational and sometimes successful option for independent treatment of bradycardia.

Bradycardia and sports

You can help a child suffering from bradycardia by teaching him some calm sport from childhood. There is no need to send him to grueling training sessions that will require heavy physical exertion. A well-chosen set of exercises, rational loads, and encouragement of positive results - all this will help improve the physical condition of the little athlete. Regular, fairly long (up to 3-4 hours a day) walks in clean, fresh air are recommended.

The following may also be useful:

  • sunbathing;
  • gentle dousing (read more about);
  • morning exercises, which excludes a number of exercises associated with turning the body over;
  • pool.

Pronounced sinus bradycardia in children can be a reason for urgent and mandatory hospitalization of the child. Sometimes the disease becomes chronic, in which a pacemaker is implanted. Today's modern medical technologies (in particular, in cardiology) can work real miracles and treat even childhood bradycardia.

Any problems in the functioning of the heart inevitably affect a person’s well-being. This also applies to bradycardia - one of the variants of arrhythmia, when the heart rate slows down to 40-50 beats per minute. Bradycardia in children is rare, but requires mandatory medical supervision.

The fact is that the slow work of the heart constantly keeps the body in a state of oxygen starvation. As a result, the vital functions of internal systems and organs are disrupted. If the disease is left unattended, complete depletion of the heart muscle and its subsequent rupture are possible.

Causes of bradycardia

Symptoms of the disease

Heart bradycardia in children is mainly detected during medical examinations. But a lot also depends on the parents. A child, and especially an infant, will not be able to clearly communicate his condition.

You should rush to see a specialist if the following abnormalities are noticeable in your baby:

  • Noticeable shortness of breath after playing or running;
  • Lethargy, adynamia, drowsiness;
  • Unexplained attacks of weakness accompanied by heavy sweat;
  • Poor appetite;
  • Absent-mindedness, inattention, memory impairment;
  • Dizziness, fainting;
  • Blood pressure surges;
  • Chest pain;
  • Swelling, pallor, cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle;

The surest sign is a low pulse.

Sometimes the heart rate drops to 30. You can count them by pressing the radial artery on the wrist with your finger. The above symptoms indicate that the contractility of the heart muscle is impaired, and the internal organs are in a state of hypoxia (lack of oxygen).

Diagnostics

Bradyarrhythmia is detected by listening to the heart through a stethoscope while simultaneously counting heartbeats. To determine exactly what the cause of bradycardia is in children, they are referred to a pediatric cardiologist.

The specialist prescribes a full examination:

  1. ECG with or without stress tests (squats, bicycle ergometry).
  2. Holter monitoring throughout the day if the ECG is uninformative.
  3. Ultrasound of the heart. The study will identify possible organ defects.
  4. Chest X-ray. It will show signs of stagnation and changes in the size of the heart muscle.

The child is additionally referred to an endocrinologist to check the functional state of the thyroid gland, as well as to a neurologist to identify neurotic disorders.

Forms and degrees of bradycardia

Based on the ECG results, one of the forms of bradycardia is determined:

  • Sinus. In this case, the picture of the heartbeat is not distorted: the impulse to contract the ventricles is supplied by the sinus node and passes along a given path. Sinus bradycardia in children is associated with increased tone of the vagus nerve (vagus). This nerve “manages” the slowing of the heart rate, and its overstrain leads to an even slower pulse.
  • Heterotopic. The anomaly occurs if the activity of the sinus node is suppressed. Then another part of the heart becomes the conductor of the rhythm. This form is rare in children.
  • Heart muscle block. It is observed when some of the electrical impulses do not reach the ventricles. Heart rate is reduced to 30-40 beats. Signs of blockade are frequent fainting and convulsive activity.

In addition to the types, there are several degrees of bradycardia:

  1. Light (heart rate 50-60 beats/min);
  2. Moderate (40-50 beats/min);
  3. Severe (less than 40 beats/min);

Mild and moderate bradycardia in children is not life-threatening if there are no organic heart lesions. Most often, the child “outgrows” it, and the heart rhythm improves on its own.

Severe dysfunction requires the attention of a specialist, since under conditions of hypoxia, disturbances develop in the bloodstream. The system of intracranial arteries that supply the brain with oxygen is especially affected.

Treatment strategy and tactics

If the diagnosis is confirmed, the small patient needs constant monitoring by a cardiologist. Mild and moderate forms of bradycardia in children usually do not require treatment.

Here, folk methods that give a lasting effect with constant use will be a good help:

  • A mixture of equal parts garlic, honey and lemon juice. Take 2 teaspoons before meals;
  • Yarrow decoction (brew 50 g of herb in 500 ml of water). Give your child a tablespoon before meals;
  • Walnuts for breakfast;
  • Infusion of pine branches;
  • Strong tea;
  • Introduction to the diet of seaweed and seafood.

Rational physical activity will help normalize your heart rate - morning exercises, long walking in the fresh air, swimming.

For severe clinical symptoms of bradyarrhythmia caused by abnormalities of the heart or other organs, the underlying disease is treated. The following antiarrhythmic drugs are used to increase heart rate:

  • Atropine;
  • Eufillin;
  • Izadrin;
  • Caffeine;
  • Ephedrine;
  • Extracts of eleutherococcus, belladonna, belladonna, ginseng.

The dosage of the drug is calculated by a cardiologist. You cannot arbitrarily interrupt treatment, reduce or increase the amount of medication.

Persistent, untreatable arrhythmia is an unconditional reason for hospitalization of the patient. In severe cases, implantation of a pacemaker is indicated.

Finally

There is no specificity in world medicine regarding the prognosis of bradycardia. After all, it is not the anomaly itself that is dangerous, but the disturbances that arise against its background. In any case, if you notice these symptoms in a child, do not hope for spontaneous healing. Without wasting time, contact a pediatric cardiologist.

Disturbances in the functioning of the heart never leave a mark on the body, provoking various pathological processes and leading to dysfunction of internal organs and systems. can occur in both adults and children. Bradycardia in children is a disease in which the number of contractions of the heart muscle decreases and is no more than 50 beats. This disease is rare in young children and requires immediate treatment.

The reason for the development of pathological abnormalities due to the disease is due to the fact that a slow heartbeat leads to constant hypoxia - in the internal organs and life support systems. In the absence of timely and correct treatment, bradycardia leads, over time, to rupture of the heart muscle.

Normal heart rate in a child

Normal heart rate indicators in children depend on age:

  • Infants - the normal contraction of the heart muscle is 120 beats per minute.
  • A 3 year old child has 110 beats.
  • For a 5 year old child (from 3 to 9 years old) – from 90 to 100 beats.
  • In children 10 years old (from 9 to 12) - from 80 to 85 beats per minute.
  • Teenagers – 70 to 75 beats.

Causes

If the number of heart contractions is reduced from the normal level by 20 units or more, a diagnosis of bradycardia is made. For example, in children 7 years old, bradycardia will be diagnosed in the case of 70 - 80 beats per minute. The cause of bradycardia is dysfunction of the sinus node, which is located in the heart.

Bradycardia of the heart rate has the following provoking factors:

  • Genetic inheritance.
  • Oxygen starvation in the fetus.
  • Congenital heart muscle defects.
  • The development of inflammatory processes - or endocarditis.
  • Thyroid dysfunction.
  • Increased pressure inside the skull, which is caused by excessive accumulation of fluid produced by the spinal cord.
  • Infectious diseases, the course of which was accompanied by dehydration of the body.
  • Allergic reactions of the body to certain medications.
  • Intoxication of the body with medications.
  • Hypothermia of the body.

Bradycardia in children in most cases leads to excessive growth and early puberty. During puberty, adolescents become extremely irritable and are in constant emotional and mental stress.

These changes are due to the fact that the glands of the endocrine system are not able to produce the required amount of hormones, since the heart and other internal organs develop extremely quickly, significantly ahead of age. In most cases, the disease is diagnosed during a routine medical examination.

Bradycardia in children has the following symptoms:

  • During active physical activity, the child begins to appear.
  • The child is lethargic, apathetic and constantly wants to sleep.
  • Sudden attacks of loss of strength, which are accompanied by profuse sweating.
  • Decreased appetite.
  • The child cannot concentrate and is extremely inattentive.
  • Dizziness.
  • Frequent fainting conditions.
  • Pain syndrome in the chest area.
  • Swelling of soft tissues.
  • in the area of ​​the lips and nose.

The most accurate sign of bradycardia is a slow pulse. In some cases, the heart muscle beat rate decreases to 35-30 beats. To count the number of heart beats, you need to place the fingers of your right hand on your left wrist, in the place where the artery passes.

The symptoms listed above indicate that the internal organs are in a state of constant hypoxia.

Varieties

Depending on the clinical picture, several types of bradycardia are distinguished:

  • Sinus type bradycardia – occurs due to the fact that the vagus nerve is in hypertonicity.
  • Heterotropic type bradycardia – the cause of occurrence is that the sinus node of the heart muscle is in a depressed state. This form of bradycardia occurs extremely rarely in a child.
  • Heart block– lack of electrical connection with the heart ventricles. In this condition, the number of beats per minute ranges from 30 to 40. Symptoms of heart block are convulsions and frequent fainting.

According to the severity of the course, bradycardia has three stages (the indicators of the normal contraction of the heart muscle in adolescents are taken as an example):

  • First stage(mild) – heart rate from 60 to 60.
  • Second stage(average) – from 40 to 50.
  • Third stage(severe bradycardia) – below 40 beats per minute.

To make an initial diagnosis, the doctor uses a stethoscope to listen to the child’s chest, counting the number of contractions of the heart muscle.

Accurate diagnosis of bradycardia in a child requires the following studies:

  • with physical activity (during the procedure, the child needs to squat or do exercises on an exercise bike).
  • . This diagnostic method is used in case of ineffective ECG.
  • heart muscle.
  • X-ray of the sternum.

The patient must be examined by an endocrinologist to identify possible disorders of the endocrine system, and by a neurologist, who excludes the possibility of pathological processes in the central nervous system, as a result of which bradycardia may occur.

Treatment

Treatment of bradycardia in children depends on the stage of its development. The first two stages of bradycardia do not pose a danger to the child's health. In these cases, drug treatment is not required. To normalize the functioning of the heart muscle, it is enough to use traditional methods and periodically undergo examination by a cardiologist.

Bradycardia of the third stage of development requires drug treatment. This type of disease is provoked by heart defects and abnormalities in the development of the heart muscle. Therapy is aimed primarily at relieving unpleasant symptoms and treating the root cause of the disease.

The main drugs for bradycardia:

  • Ephedrine.
  • Atropine.
  • Caffeine.
  • Eufillin.
  • Izadrin.

Auxiliary means of treatment are taking eleutherococcus, a decoction of ginseng root, and belladonna.

Self-treatment is excluded. Prescription of medications and their dosage are prescribed only by the attending physician. The use of any traditional methods must be agreed with doctors.

Folk remedies

The patient must have honey, garlic, and walnuts.

  • Drink made from garlic, honey and lemon juice. The ingredients are mixed in equal proportions. Drink one tablespoon daily before meals.
  • Millennial - used to prepare a decoction. 50 grams of dried, crushed herbs are poured into half a liter of boiling water. Take two teaspoons before meals.

Among drinks, black tea has a good effect on the functioning of the heart muscle. Children need to consume seaweed and other seafood regularly.

Sports activities

Bradycardia in children and sports are compatible only in the first two, mild stages of the disease. Exercises should be regular and moderate. Excessive exercise will lead to shortness of breath.

Bradycardia in a teenage child, as an independent disease, does not pose a threat to health and life. The consequences that can be caused by the disease are dangerous. When the first symptoms of the disease appear, you must immediately consult a doctor to diagnose the disease and prescribe timely treatment for bradycardia in children.