Stress, caffeine, smoking, alcohol, pregnancy, and some medications can
also cause an arrhythmia.
Who can get it?
Anyone can have a heart murmur or arrhythmia.
Heart murmurs are usually found when a child is between 2 and 4 years old
(likely because at this age, many children can sit quietly while the doctor
listens to the heart).
What are the signs and symptoms of an arrhythmia? Symptoms of an arrhythmia can be mild to severe. They may include:
The doctor will listen to the heart to check for murmurs.
If there is a murmur, the doctor will determine where the murmur is, what
type of noise it makes, when it happens, and if it changes.
The most common type of murmur is a functional or innocent murmur.
An innocent murmur is not harmful to a child's health. It usually goes away
on its own without treatment.
Other murmurs may be a sign that there is a problem. In this case, the doctor
will likely send you to a pediatric cardiologist (a doctor who specializes
in treating children's heart conditions.)
If an arrhythmia is suspected, the doctor will find out what kind it is
(where it is in the heart).
Treatment will depend on what kind of arrhythmia it is and how severe it
is.
Avoiding caffeine may help stop mild arrhythmias.
Medicines help many arrhythmias.
Special devices can sometimes be put in the body to correct the arrhythmia.
Pacemakers are sometimes used to speed up hearts that are beating too slow.
If these treatments do not work, the doctor may recommend surgery.
Can it be prevented?
A woman can take steps to improve her baby's chances of being born without
a heart defect.
Before pregnancy, a woman should be tested for rubella and vaccinated if
needed.
Pregnant women should avoid drugs and alcohol.
Women with chronic health conditions should talk to their doctors before
getting pregnant. Medication and diet may need to be changed.
Genetic counselors can sometimes tell parents what their chances are of
having a baby with a heart defect.
When should I call the doctor?
Call the doctor if your child has symptoms of an arrhythmia.
Call the doctor if you have questions or concerns about your child's treatment
or condition.
Quick Answers
The heart pumps blood through its chambers and valves then pushes oxygen
rich blood out to the rest of the body.
A heart murmur is the sound of blood being pumped through the heart's chambers
and valves.
An arrhythmia is when the heart does not beat at a regular pace.
Arrhythmias can be caused by birth defects, heart disease, high blood pressure,
and various factors during pregnancy.
Anyone can have a heart murmur or arrhythmia.
Arrhythmias are often discovered after the doctor notices a heart murmur.
Treatment will depend on what kind of arrhythmia it is and how severe it
is. The doctor will probably recommend seeing a special heart doctor, called
a cardiologist.
Pregnant women should talk to their doctors about taking steps to prevent
heart defects in their babies.
Call the doctor if your child has symptoms of an arrhythmia.
References
American Heart Association. What are Arrhythmias? 2002 (cited 2002 April
8). URL: http://216.185.112.5/presenter.jhtml?identifier=560
Rutherford, K. Heart Murmurs and Your Child. KidsHealth. 2001 June (cited
2002 April 8). URL: http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/heart/murmurs.html
Texas Heart Institute. 2001 May (cited 2002 April 8). URL: http://www.tmc.edu/thi/arrhythm.html
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