Patient's question:
I don't know what's going on, but my child has been misbehaving and crying non-stop lately. Even the hospital check-ups haven't helped. Could you please tell me what the normal ranges are for a child's heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure?Doctor's answer:
Hello! As people age, the heart rate gradually slows down: 120-140 beats per minute on average, 110-130 beats per minute for those under 1 year old, 100-120 beats per minute for those aged 2-3, 80-100 beats per minute for those aged 4-7, and 70-90 beats per minute for those aged 8-14. Eating, activity, crying, and fever can increase heart rate. Therefore, heart rate and pulse should be measured when the child is calm or asleep.Respiration: 25-30 times per minute.
Blood Pressure: Normal values for children over 1 year old are as follows:
- Systolic pressure = 80 + (2 × age) mmHg
- Diastolic pressure = 2/3 of systolic pressure.
If the blood pressure is 20 mmHg higher than this standard, it may be considered hypertension. If it is 20 mmHg lower, it may be considered hypotension.
Normal blood pressure in the lower limbs is about 20-40 mmHg higher than in the upper limbs.
The pulse pressure is the difference between systolic and diastolic pressure. The normal range is 30-40 mmHg.