A 5-day-old infant shows a heart rate of 70 bpm after crying. This is best described as:

A 5-day-old infant shows a heart rate of 70 bpm after crying. This is best described as:

• A. Normal for a neonate
• B. Bradycardia
• C. Tachycardia
• D. Exercise-induced tachycardia

Answer: (B)

A newborn’s resting heart rate is typically about 110–160 beats per minute. A heart rate of 70 is well below that range, which is described as bradycardia in a neonate. After crying, a healthy infant’s heart rate may rise briefly due to increased metabolic demand, not remain so low. So this finding is not normal for a 5-day-old and points to bradycardia rather than a normal or high-rate response. This is not normal for a neonate, and it’s not tachycardia (which would be a heart rate above normal). It’s also not exercise-induced tachycardia, which would involve an increased rate with activity, not a persistently low rate. If this bradycardia is persistent or accompanied by signs of distress (poor color, poor perfusion, lethargy), it requires urgent evaluation for potential hypoxia, respiratory problems, or conduction issues.

A newborn’s resting heart rate is typically about 110–160 beats per minute. A heart rate of 70 is well below that range, which is described as bradycardia in a neonate. After crying, a healthy infant’s heart rate may rise briefly due to increased metabolic demand, not remain so low. So this finding is not normal for a 5-day-old and points to bradycardia rather than a normal or high-rate response.

This is not normal for a neonate, and it’s not tachycardia (which would be a heart rate above normal). It’s also not exercise-induced tachycardia, which would involve an increased rate with activity, not a persistently low rate. If this bradycardia is persistent or accompanied by signs of distress (poor color, poor perfusion, lethargy), it requires urgent evaluation for potential hypoxia, respiratory problems, or conduction issues.