“Does heart rate increase when exposed to the sun?”
My son's 7 years old, and I noticed that he has a high heart rate whenever he comes in from playing outside. Is it possible for his heart rate to increase when exposed to the sun? He is considered overweight as well.
3 Answers
The sun could increase his heart rate if his body temperature increases as he played hard outside
Heart rate goes up with exercise. It is a normal response. It is expected for it to go up when your child plays outside. Overheating can also cause an increase in the heart rate.
Our heart and brain are very good at changing heart rate and blood pressure to adjust to our body’s needs. When your child is outside playing, his muscles are being used more and so need more oxygen and nutrients to work effectively. His heart rate increases in response to this increased demand. Also, particularly if it is hot, he may be sweating and losing water from his body. This can cause a slight reduction in his blood volume, which also results in the heart beating faster. After he stops playing, his heart rate gradually returns to normal. This may take 5-10 minutes and sometimes longer, particularly if he is dehydrated. These are all normal responses to exercise. He may even feel the fast heart rate, which is also normal as long as it is not unusual or distressing. Concerning signs that deserve medical evaluation include chest pain, dizziness, uncomfortable palpitations (feeling the heart beat), and fainting that occur during exercise. So, the sun itself won’t cause a fast heartbeat, but playing in the sun, particularly if a bit dehydrated, will definitely do it.
