Trust your child’s heart
Understanding common cardiac symptoms in kids and teens.
While most commonly associated with adults, heart disease can affect little hearts too.
These heart problems are divided into two categories:
- Congenital heart disease: one or multiple heart defects present at birth
- Acquired heart disease: a heart problem that develops as a child gets older
Common pediatric heart conditions
While some pediatric heart conditions can’t be prevented, there are signs parents can look for and steps they can take for earlier intervention and better outcomes for their children and teens.
“There are three common heart-related symptoms in children that typically cause concern for parents,” said Robert English, MD, a pediatric interventional cardiologist with Wolfson Children’s C. Herman and Mary Virginia Terry Heart Institute. “In most cases, children with these symptoms don’t actually have heart problems. But if parents do suspect something is wrong, it’s better they trust their gut, and their child’s heart, and consult their child’s pediatrician, who can conduct a full medical evaluation and decide whether a referral to a pediatric cardiologist is appropriate.”
Heart symptoms in kids
We break each of the symptoms down below to help parents better understand what their child may be experiencing.
Listen to Dr. English discuss this topic in more detail on Baptist Health's podcast, Baptist Health Radio.
Wolfson Children's Terry Heart Institute treats a full range of pediatric cardiac conditions
The caring experts at Wolfson Children’s C. Herman and Mary Virginia Terry Heart Institute are here to help you understand your child's heart condition and work with your family to develop a plan to treat it.
