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pediatric cardiology

Find articles tagged with “pediatric cardiology” on Nanhe Dil’s blog. Explore insights on children’s health and related topics.

in Cardiology

How Screen Time Affects Children’s Heart Health & What Parents Can Do About It

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March 11, 2026
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In the modern digital world, children have become accustomed to daily screen usage. From virtual classes and educational material to cartoons, games, and social media, children are spending more time in front of screens than ever before. While technology has it’s upsides, excessive screen usage impacts a child’s heart, especially when screen time outweighs physical activity and other healthy routines.

According to Dr. Manvinder Singh Sachdev Senior Pediatric Cardiologist and Founder of NanheDil – The Child Heart Centre, heart health begins in childhood. The habits a child learns early in life, especially when it comes to physical activity, are important determinants of that children’s heart health later in life.

Understanding the Link Between Screen Time and Heart Health

When children sit in front of a screen their body enters a sedentary state which means their bodies become less active and their hearts do not get the stimulation they need.

When screen time is excessive children become sedentary . A sedentary lifestyle in children can lead to:

  • Reduced cardiovascular fitness
  • Poor stamina and endurance
  • Increased risk of childhood obesity

Dr. Singh highlights that children’s lack of physical activity can heighten the risk of high blood pressure and diabetes, as well as heart disease in later years.

Effects of Screen Time on Weight and Metabolism

It is common for children to munch on snacks while watching screen. Such snacks tend to be the following:

  • Deep-Fried Foods
  • Highly Sugary Foods
  • Other Packaged/Highly Processed Foods

This combination of mindless eating, coupled with a sedentary lifestyle, can lead to unhealthy weight gain and increased strain on the heart. This mindless weight gain struggle is accompanied by the following:

    • Increased Cholesterol

    • Insulin Resistance

    • Early Onset Heart Disease

Parents are routinely counselled on lifestyle changes (reducing screen time, in specific) to significantly improve a child’s heart health at NanheDil – The Child Heart Centre.

Screen Time, Sleep, and Heart Health

Late-night screen exposure affects the body’s natural sleep cycle. Blue light from screens suppresses melatonin, the hormone responsible for sleep. Poor sleep can lead to:

  • Hormonal imbalance
  • Increased appetite
  • Higher stress levels
  • Raised blood pressure

Dr. Sachdev explains that adequate sleep is essential for a child’s heart to rest, repair, and grow. Children who don’t sleep well are more likely to gain weight and develop heart-related risk factors.

How Much Screen Time Is Too Much?

While screen time isn’t totally avoidable, balance is important. Recommended values are: Limiting recreational screen time to 1-2 hours per day Not using screens at least 1 hour before sleeping Having screen-free meals and family time Dr. Manvinder Singh Sachdev stresses that screens should never take the place of the outdoors, sports, or any form of physical exercise.

Heart-Healthy Alternatives to Screen Time

Reducing screen time opens the door to activities that strengthen the heart naturally:

  • Outdoor play like running, cycling, skipping
  • Sports such as football, swimming, badminton
  • Family activities like evening walks or yoga
  • Creative play including dancing, drawing, or gardening

These activities improve blood circulation, strengthen the heart muscle, and help children maintain a healthy weight.

What Parents Can Do: Practical Tips

Parents greatly influence their child’s way of living.

  • Be a Role Model

Opting for less screen time yourself makes it easier for children to limit their screen use.

  • Create a Daily Routine

Make a schedule including schoolwork, screen time, physical activities, and sleep.

  • Encourage Active Rewards

Children should be rewarded with time to play outside instead of extra screen time.

  • Make Movement Fun

Make it a game instead of a task when it comes to exercising.

At NanheDil – The Child Heart Centre, parents are taught how small everyday improvements can foster a lifetime of heart healthy habits

When Should Parents Seek Out the Expertise of a Pediatric Cardiologist?

  • Excessive weight gain
  • Breathlessness during mild activity
  • Poor stamina or fatigue
  • Above average or high blood pressure
  • Heart disease in the family

Dr. Sachdev mentions that early risk assessment and mitigative strategies will deal with the risk before it becomes a problem.

Conclusion: A Healthy Heart is Built Early

Screens are a constant in every child’s life and allow them to do fun and educational activities. However, they should be used in moderation to allow for unstructured, active, outside play. Healthy meal choices, enough sleep, and active play can improve and maintain the heart health of any child today and in the future.

To quote Sachdev, “A healthy heart is built through everyday habits, not just medical treatment.”

Tomorrow your child will be carrying around a stronger, healthier heart because of the small, positive changes being introduced today.

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in Cardiology

How Sleep Patterns Affect Children’s Heart Health

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January 15, 2026
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Sleep is just as important for children as nutrition and exercise are. However, many parents don’t consider how sleep affects different aspects of a child’s health now and later.

Dr Manvinder Singh Sachdev and his team at Nanhe Dil – The Child Heart Centre often see how lifestyle-related cardiac risk factors in children are caused by disrupted sleep. In cardiology, sleep is important for blood pressure and metabolism control, and for emotional regulation and cardiovascular system development, thus sleep is invaluable in preventive heart care.

While many people think sleep is a time for the body and mind to take a break, sleep is the time for the body to repair and balance itself. The heart rate slows, blood pressure lowers, and stress hormones decrease during sleep time, which gives the heart a break and blood vessels a chance to rest. Dr Manvinder Singh Sachdev explains how sleep allows the cardiovascular system to recuperate from the demands of the day.

Not getting enough sleep is bad for kids’ blood pressure, emotions, and weight. On the other hand, getting good sleep is good for kids’ blood pressure, emotions, weight, and overall wellbeing. Chronic sleep deprivation makes things even worse, causing dysregulation of the heart and other body systems. Not getting enough sleep also increases long term heart disease risk.

The Ways Poor Sleep Affects Children’s Hearts

Children who sleep poorly are at risk for high blood pressure, hormonal imbalances, obesity, increased stress, irregular heartbeats, and more. In fact, sleep deprivation is one of the big players when it comes to increased risk for cardiovascular strain.

When a child is sleep deprived, appetite hormones become disrupted. This makes kids eat unhealthy foods that will cause weight gain. This is a cycle because highly unhealthy kids almost always have sleep deprivation issues. The extra weight makes obesity more likely. Hypertension, diabetes, and unusual cholesterol are just some of the conditions that these  kids have.

The Ways Sleep Affects Emotional Stress

Poor sleep weakens mood, ability to pay attention, and ability to tolerate stress. Increased stress hormones can cause strain on the heart. The cardiovascular system can also become more stressed. Among other things, keep in mind that good sleep is needed for emotional wellbeing and heart health. This is something that is especially important during the developmental years.

Recommended Sleep Duration For Children

Dr. Manvinder Singh Sachdev advises parents to ensure age-appropriate sleep duration:

Age GroupRecommended Sleep per Day
Infants (4–12 months)12–16 hours (including naps)
Toddlers (1–2 years)11–14 hours
Preschool (3–5 years)10–13 hours
School-age (6–12 years)9–12 hours
Teens (13–18 years)8–10 hours

Issues Arising From Sleep Disturbance

Parents must look out for loud snores, frequent awakenings, tiredness during the day, irritability, inability to concentrate, and hyperactivity. Excessive disturbances in sleep may signify more serious, less obvious issues affecting one’s heart. Dr. Manvinder Singh Sachdev.

Advice On Sleeping Well And Maintaining Heart Health

Try to create a bedtime routine that is calming and followed every day. Ensure that the sleep environment is a quiet, dark, and screen-free place. It is also important to promote regular exercise during the day, particularly to avoid caffeine and sugary foods in the hours leading to bedtime. Dr. Sachdev also recommends using relaxation techniques to alleviate stress.

Sleep Disorders And Heart Health

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a serious condition that affects children and is associated with heart strain and high blood pressure. As Dr. Manvinder Singh Sachdev points out, there is a need for early diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders to avoid complications in the heart in the future.

When To Consult A Doctor

Parents should consult a doctor if the child snores loudly, has pauses in their breathing during sleep, experiences excessive sleepiness in the daytime, or possesses high blood pressure that does not appear to be explained. Dr. Manvinder Singh Sachdev is an expert in identifying and managing heart-related issues and is available at the NanheDil – The Child Heart Centre.

Healthy sleep plays an essential part in building a children’s heart health. As Dr. Manvinder Singh Sachdev highlighted, the combination of good sleep, proper nutrition, and physical activity work to strengthen the foundation of good health and reduce the risk of future heart issues. If parents prioritize sleep today, they are protecting their child’s future heart health.

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Everything you need to know about pediatric cardiology

by
January 25, 2023
798

Pediatric cardiology involves the treatment of heart ailments in children. Heart diseases in children can be a cause of serious concern, and parents need to find an experienced pediatric cardiologist for the right treatment of their children. The right pediatric cardiologist in Haryana will ensure that your child’s ailment is diagnosed properly and that he or she receives the best treatment possible. In this post, we will discuss everything you need to know about pediatric cardiology. 

What are some of the common heart ailments in children? 
There are several types of heart diseases that affect children. Some of the most common heart diseases in children are Kawasaki disease, congenital heart disease, aortic disease, and arrhythmias. 

What are some common symptoms of heart disease in children? 
Some of the most common symptoms of heart disease in children are: 

1) Rapid heartbeat 
2) Rapid breathing 
3) Extreme tiredness 
4) Dizziness 
5) Chest pain 

If your child has a symptom of heart disease, you need to take him or her to a pediatric cardiologist as soon as possible. Taking your child to a child heart specialist in Gurgaon at the earliest will ensure that he or she receives early treatment for their heart ailment if present. 

How to prepare your child for heart surgery? 
If your child has a heart ailment that needs an operation, it is important for you to know how you can prepare him or her. Some of the things you must ensure while preparing your child for a heart operation are listed below: 

1) Make sure your child is comfortable
Hospitals, doctors, and the whole medical environment can make your child nervous. However, to prevent nervousness, you can bring things your child likes, such as his or her favorite toys, books, etc., so their mind stays in a calm, controlled, and comfortable environment.  

2) Ensure your child follows the necessary diet restrictions 
If your child’s pediatric cardiologist has put some diet restrictions before his or her surgery, you must make certain that these restrictions are followed.  

3) Ensure your child receives adequate sleep before the day of surgery
Before the day of your child’s heart surgery, you need to make certain that he or she receives enough sleep. Your child should not feel tired on the day of their heart surgery, and therefore this is important. 

How can parents prepare before their child’s heart surgery? 
If your child has to undergo heart surgery, it is natural for you to be not in the best state of mind. However, you need to be mentally healthy to support your child during his or her surgery. Given below are some of the ways you can prepare yourself before your child’s heart surgery: 

1) Take deep breaths 
Take deep breaths before your child’s heart surgery to ensure that you do not get too nervous and are able to be in a collected state of mind. 

2) Follow the doctor’s instructions 
Adhere to whatever instructions your child’s pediatric cardiologist has given to you before the day of your child’s surgery. 

What are the different options for your child’s heart treatment? 
For your child’s heart treatment, there are usually two options, medication and surgery. If your child’s heart ailment is something mild, just medication might be suggested by a pediatric cardiologist in Haryana. However, children who suffer from severe heart ailments most often get prescribed surgery.  

How is a child’s heart ailment detected? 
There are several ways in which a child’s heart ailment might be detected. Some of the most common ways heart ailments in children get detected are by chest x-ray, blood tests, ECG, and echocardiogram.  

How to keep your child’s heart healthy? 
For your child’s heart to be healthy, parents can do certain things. Some of the things parents can do to make certain their child has a healthy heart are listed below: 

1) Ensure that they receive enough exercise :
If your child is involved in an adequate amount of exercise every day, it can benefit their cardiovascular health greatly. 

2) Limit salt consumption :
Excessive salt consumption is not recommended for any child keeping in mind their heart health. Therefore, ensure that you limit your child’s salt consumption. 

3) Create a positive environment for your child :
Children who are raised in a positive environment often have better heart health. Therefore, you must ensure that your child grows up in an environment that is filled with positivity. 

4) Ensure that your child is on a healthy diet  :
Include food items in your child’s diet that are healthy for his or her heart. On the contrary, limit your child from consuming food items that are harmful to their heart. 

The bottom line 
If you are searching for a pediatric cardiologist, you can consider selecting Dr Manvinder Singh. He has successfully treated several children to get them rid from their heart ailments. Dr Manvinder Singh is one of the best pediatric cardiologists in Gurgaon and has years of experience in the field and thus is a trusted name when it comes to pediatric cardiology treatment.  

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