Cardiovascular Differences Associated with Children

In Anatomy I learned that children have a proportionally smaller heart than adults, therefore a child's stroke volume (SV) is lower. In order to maintain cardiac output (Q), the their heart rate (HR) must be higher. High exercise heart rates are normal if no other signs of distress are present. A child's heart rate (HR) recovers faster than an adult's. A child's Max heart rate (HR) does not change considerably between the ages of 7-15. The average Max heart rate (HR) is 185-215, therefore (220-age) is not appropriate for this age group.