Advice on Congenital Heart Disease
By: Robert NamTotal Views: 168, Word Count: 710,
A congenital heart disease refers to a problem with the heart’s structure and function due to abnormal heart development before birth. This is one of the major birth defects, which affects the newborn. Congenital heart diseases may produce symptoms at birth, during childhood and some times not till the adulthood. In USA, near about 5, 00,000 adults are infected with congenital heart diseases.
Types of Congenital Heart Disease
There are many types of congenital heart diseases. However, it is divided into two categories - cyanotic heart disease (it causes a blue discoloration due to lack of oxygen) and Acyanotic heart diseases.
Cyanotic heart disease:
- Transposition of great vessels
- Tricuspid atresia
- Truncus arteriosus
- Hypoplastic right heart
- Hypoplastic left heart
- Tetralogy of fallot
- Ebstein’s anomaly
- Total anomalous pulmonary venous return
Acyanotic heart disease includes:
- Atrial septal defect
- Ventricular septal defect
- Pulmonic stenosis
- Aortic stenosis
- Atrioventricular canal
- Patent ductus arteriosus
Causes of Congenital Heart Disease
In the majority of the cases, causes of congenital heart disease are unknown. However, there are some factors, which are associated with an increased risk of developing a congenital heart disease. These risk factors or causes include.
- Genetic or Chromosomal abnormalities i.e. down syndrome
- Taking wrong medicines while pregnancy
- Taking drugs or alcohol while pregnancy
- Maternal viral infection such as rubella.
Types of Congenital Heart Problems
The most common congenital heart problems include.
- Defects in the walls between atria and ventricles of the heart are known as atrial septal defects and ventricular septal defects. These defects lead to abnormal mixing of oxygen rich blood and poor oxygen blood between the right and left side of the heart.
- Heart valve defect involves narrowing of the valves or complete closure, which prevents blood from flowing forward.
- Other valve defect is the leaky valve that may not close properly, allowing blood to leak backwards.
- In addition, the abnormalities in the heart muscle leads to heart failure.
Symptoms of Congenital Heart Diseases in Infants and Children’s
The symptoms of congenital heart diseases in infants and children are:
- Poor weight gain
- Fast breathing
- Poor feeding
- Fatigue
- fainting
- Cyanosis
- Inability to perform exercise
- Lung infections
Symptoms of Congenital Heart Diseases in Adult
Congenital heart disease can be diagnosed before birth, right after birth and during the childhood. It has more chances of having the defect without any symptoms. In adults, symptoms of congenital heart disease may include.
- Shortness of breath
- No or limited ability to exercise
Diagnosis of Congenital Heart Diseases
A congenital heart disease is often detected when your doctor hears an abnormal heart rhythm sound or heart murmur while listening to your heart. Depending on the type of defect or murmur, your doctor will order you to perform the further test such as.
- MRI
- Chest X-ray
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Electrocardiogram(ECG)
- Echocardiogram
Treatment of Congenital Heart Disease
Treatment of congenital heart disease depends on the severity of the disease. Some of the minor heart defects do not require any treatment whereas the major heart defects can be treated with medications or surgery.
Congenital heart defect is still being researched. No cause has been detected for the congenital heart disease.
About the Author
Dr. Robert Nam is a well known heart specialist and has done postgraduate training in cardiology at the national heart hospital, the London chest hospital and UCL hospital, London. He was also engaged in research at the national heart and lung institute. Nowadays he is working as a consultant cardiologist at UCL hospital, London.
Advice Rating: Not yet rated
Login to vote