You keep track of a lot when raising kids, including dentist appointments, recitals, wellness visits, soccer practice, etc. Your child’s heart health is on the list, whether you’re aware of it or not. Your child’s heart should be tip-top, but how do you know if it isn’t?
A fetal screen ultrasound detects congenital heart disease, and it’s why most pregnant women have one. It is possible to detect between 65% and 95% of congenital heart disease with ultrasound. It’s okay to ask for help, explained Pediatric Cardiology Director Dr. Sharon E. O’Brien.
However, not all heart conditions start in utero. Some can be acquired and developed later in life. Here are a few red flags indicating a heart problem in your child:
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Chest Pain
Children’s complaints about their hearts can also alarm adults. Children may express pain differently than adults. It can be hard to distinguish in younger children. Sleeping or running may change our heart rates, but sometimes they can be abnormal.
It is not unusual for a child with chest pain or palpitations to have other symptoms such as exercise intolerance, difficulty keeping up with peers, or exhaustion (like being carried to the grocery store while peers their age can walk).
It is essential to address fainting immediately, according to O’Brien. If fever or rash accompanies chest pain, it might indicate Kawasaki’s. It causes inflammation in the coronary arteries.
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Family History
In some cases, your family history can indicate heart problems. According to Ludormirsky, hypercholesterolemia (cholesterol of 600 or above) can run in families. To help prevent early coronary heart disease, it’s best to get the child a cardiologist. O’Brien said that your pediatrician should be aware of any family history of heart attacks, pacemakers, or cardiac issues so they can assess accordingly.