Symptoms that might Indicate a Heart Problem

Also known as: fatigue, dizziness, lightheadedness, swelling, shortness of breath, palpitations, anxiety, sweating, nausea, chest pain

What are the Symptoms That Might Indicate a Heart Problem?

As there are many causes of heart problems in children, and because of this symptoms will vary depending on the cause. Many of these symptoms occur in children without heart disease. For example some children will sweat more than others normally. However if any of these symptoms do occur it would be wise for you to tell your child's primary care doctor or pediatrician. These might include symptoms such as chest pain, palpitations, fainting or blue or cold skin due to lack of oxygen. In other cases, the symptoms might be more subtle, such as shortness of breath, swollen feet, anxiety, dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea or fatigue.
 

What causes symptoms that might indicate a heart problem? 

Symptoms can have several different causes, but in general symptoms are caused by abnormalities in the heart’s structure or by the heart's inability to pump enough blood to the rest of the body. Sometimes they occur in conjunction with one another.
 

What are care options for symptoms that might indicate a heart problem? 

When individuals have several of the symptoms listed above, or some of the alarming ones like chest pain, palpitations or fainting, then a visit to a doctor is needed. If your doctor suspects that your child is experiencing symptoms of a heart problem he/she can perform a variety of tests to determine whether there is a problem with the heart, diagnose what the problem is,  and then suggest the appropriate medical care.

Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf, MD, FAAP

This page was last updated on: March 20, 2019 04:04 PM