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Forum Name: Miscellaneous Cardiology Topics

Question: 15 year old male low heart rate while horizontal

kath1067 - Mon May 14, 2007 1:26 am

I was wondering what would cause the heart rate of a 15 year old male who is physically fit to drop while horizontal to around 30-35 bpm. Some symptoms include tingling and numbness throughout the body. He has fainted 2 times. He has also had twitching once during the tingling and numbness. We are seeing a pediatric cardiologist and she suggested increasing fluids. We are returning to her at the end of the month to have him checked to see if the fluids have helped to increase his blood volume. The numbness and tingling are still continuing, even with the increase in fluids, and the twitching occurred after our initial visit to the cardiologist and with the increased fluids. His maternal grandfather died of a Heart attack at age 53, but he also had Diabetes. His paternal grandparents both died from Heart failure, but were later in age (early 80's) when they passed. He is not taking any medications. He wrestles for his high school and is pretty physically fit and is healthy otehrwise. An Echo of his heart showed that it was not abnormal.

Dr. Chan Lowe - Mon May 14, 2007 1:39 am

He should have an ECG of his heart to look for any electrical abnormalities such as heart block. A 24 hour holter monitor may be needed also to look at the heart rhythm over a full day. In some very conditioned athletes, the heart rate can slow down to this low and be normal. Generally, if it is normal there should be no symptoms. Given your son's tingling symptoms his heart rate may be "too low" for him. Seeing a cardiologist is the best next step. Best wishes.

kath1067 - Tue May 15, 2007 2:34 pm

Thanks for the info---we are scheduled to go back to the cardio at the end of the month. I hope we are better able to figure this out then. While I am at it....the cardiologist said something about putting him on a tilt table to see if the heart stops at anytime if the increased fluids does not help. Isn't that kind of dangerous? Should I get a second opinion before doing anything like that? Is it possible that she just worded it wrong? I do not like to hear "we will see if we can get his heart to stop". Seems kind of extreme.

Dr. Chan Lowe - Wed May 16, 2007 2:06 am

A tilt table test is where the patient is placed on a horizontal table that subsequently raises to a vertical position. During this time, the patient is hooked up to heart rhythm monitors and blood pressure monitors. When a positive test occurs, the heart rate slows down dramatically during the vertical positioning and the patient passes out. Occasionally the heart rhythm slows so much that it "stops" but it always "starts" again as it speeds back up. It sounds worse but it is a safe procedure. Best wishes.

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