Hello. I have a six year old daughter. Recently she has been stating that her heart is racing very fast. It doesnt appear to be all the time but the frequency is increasing. She has moments when she goes pale and she will grab her chest and say that her heart is racing. She is autistic and suffers from anxiety however she has started to say this when she appears quite calm and not in stressful situations. I thought they were panic attacks however now I am concerned that it is something else. Her resting heart rate is ranges from 108 -115 however it increases when she states her heart is racing. Should I be concerned?
Hello! Welcome on Chat Doctor! Regarding your concern, I would explain that her symptoms can be explained by anxiety. But, if her problems persist, I would recommend consulting with her pediatrician for a careful physical exam and some tests: - a cardiac ultrasound to examine her heart function and structure-complete blood count for anemia-thyroid hormone levels for possible dysfunction- blood electrolytes for any imbalance. Regarding anxiety, you should consult with a pediatric psychiatrist to help her manage anxiety. Hope you will find this answer helpful! Kind regards, 