The heart is the most important part of one's body; it ensures blood circulation throughout the body, without which life would not be possible. Medicine has advanced greatly and, with modern technology, almost all heart diseases can be treated successfully if detected in time.
What is Congenital Heart Disease
Congenital heart disease, or CHD, is a malformation of the heart or a large blood vessel near the heart. Congenital heart disease is a condition that one is born with and it is one of the most common forms of major birth defects in newborns, affecting approximately 8% per 1000 infants. It is normally diagnosed within one week from birth in 40-50% of congenital heart disease cases.
This condition is not a problem until after birth, as the blood circulation differs from that after birth. The fetal circulation derives oxygen and nutrients from the mother through the placenta, and the fetal circulation has important communications between the upper heart chambers and the great blood vessels near the heart. Consequently, most types of congenital heart disease are well tolerated during fetal life.
The Cause of Congenital Heart Disease
This disease can have different causes such as:
- Environmental factors such as chemicals or drugs are sometimes to blame. For example, if a mother-to-be catches measles or rubella during pregnancy, the infection can impair the development of the unborn baby's heart or other organs. Similar effects can take place if the mother-to-be consumes alcohol during pregnancy.
- Maternal diseases for the mother can increase the risks of developing congenital heart disease in the unborn baby.
- Chromosome abnormalities - a common chromosome abnormality causing congenital heart disease is Down's syndrome where an extra #21 chromosome is present. About 50% of children with Down's syndrome also have CHD.
Treating Congenital Heart Disease
The treatment depends from person to person due to the huge difference in occurrence from case to case. Everything needs to be taken into consideration in order to follow an effective treatment program.
A treatment program can only be decided after proper diagnosis made by a specialist. While eating healthy and exercising always helps, congenital heart disease is a special case which needs to follow strict doctor's instructions; no self medication or treatment is advised. Information and guidelines are available both online and in the doctor's office to help one educate themselves in order to deal better with this disease.
Congenital heart disease affects children, infants, and even fetuses, which are still developing inside the uterus. Today, as statistics state, 8 out of every 1,000 children are affected with this disease. A disease with few known causes, congenital heart disease is dangerous. Doctors have failed to pinpoint the exact causal factors for most people suffering from this disease.
Congenital heart disease has many forms. Grouped into different types, it is usually diagnosed and treated accordingly. The disease normally includes one of the following: abnormal holes in the heart chambers, improper connections between chambers which leads deoxygenated blood flow to the body instead of the lungs and oxygenated blood to flow to the lungs instead of the body, and much more.
According to research, there are some risk factors which are viewed as possible causes. They include genetic or chromosomal abnormalities or defects, and environmental factors, which include the mother's taking alcohol, cocaine, or over-the-counter medicines during pregnancy.
Although this disease might be present in infants from the very beginning, it might show aggravated symptoms and be diagnosed during childhood, or sometimes even late in adulthood.
Symptoms are quite similar to the usual heart disease symptoms, such as shortness of breath, complete passing out, fast breathing and difficulty in feeding, poor weight gain, chest pain, and cyanosis.
Diagnosis can be possible through intravascular catheterization, chest-x-ray, electrocardiogram, position emission tomography, and others. Other tests include pulse oximetry, which reveals the amount of oxygen in the baby's blood, and echocardiogram, which gives an ultrasound of the baby's heart.
Treatment of congenital heart disease depends solely on the intensity, degree, and type of the disease, besides other factors such as age. In an aggravated state it usually requires surgery; however, only a trained and professional pediatric cardiologist should examine and decide about the surgery options in infants and children. In a mild state, medications can work.
Congenital heart disease is dangerous. Starting from a very mild state, it can take the form of heart failure, leading to an early death. Proper diagnosis, medications, and treatment are required and must be resorted to by anyone who suspects he has congenital heart disease.
Congenital heart disease is the form of heart disease that a person is born with. The affects of any form of heart disease can be deadly, but for the person with congenital defects making lifestyle change such as diet and exercise will not prevent or reverse the effects of their form of this disease. Getting diagnosed early in life is the best defense against this kind of heart condition.
Congenital heart disease is an actual defect of the heart or large blood vessels that connect to the heart. This type of defect is something that people are born with. Other forms of heart disease form over time, and in most cases are caused by unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyles. Most people are diagnosed with a congenital heart defect a week or two after they are born. Considering it is one of the most common birth defects all doctors are trained to recognize the signs and symptoms that a new born infant will present if they have this type of defect.
For the unborn baby this type of defect is not life threatening because they are still using their mother's cardiovascular system, through their attachment to the placenta, to pump blood and nutrients through their own circulatory system. Their heart is beating and there are times that a defect can be seen with an ultrasound but the majority of defects remain undiagnosed until after the baby is born and their own heart takes over.
There are many different forms of congenital heart disease so the treatments for these forms can vary. For some people surgery to fix the defect is recommended, for others prescription medications along with a strict diet and exercise program will keep any problems in check. Anyone with this type of heart problem must follow the advice and program laid out by their cardiologist. Their life depends on it.
For those who suffer from congenital heart disease it is a condition that they will spend their life time fighting. While it is a disease to be wary of with doctors able to detect it early in life those who suffer from it can lead long productive lives. Medical science and technology is constantly making inroads into the treatment of congenital defects and this along with patients who take responsibility for living a healthy life style can effectively manage their condition.
Congenital heart disease or acquired heart disease are common diseases suffered by cardiac patients.
Congenital heart disease is due to defective development of the heart while the acquired heart disease affects the heart cover known as pericardium and the heart muscle known as endocardium. In effect, this produces pericarditis which is an inflammation of the heart cover, myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and endocarditis (inflammation of the heart membrane) respectively.
Congenital heart disease is of two classifications - the functional and the organic.
In organic disorder, a definite lesion exists in the heart or other parts of the cardio-vascular-renal system.
No lesion is present in a functional heart disorder, but there is a disturbance in function. The manifestations of these congenital heart attack disorders are irregular or accentuated heart beat, weakness after physical effort, shortness of breath, dizziness, fatigue and considerable concern and anxiety. Some medical experts believe that the disturbance is chiefly psychogenic in origin, arising from an imagined heart condition of which treatment along psychiatric line is indicated in this situation.
The aforementioned activities originated from the symptoms of failing circulation which arise from the failure of the heart to pump blood into the organs or to pump it with sufficient force to return it to the various systems back to the heart. Some of the symptoms of congenital heart attack which is brought on by such failure include:
1) Pulse changes which includes irregularity heart rhythm, rapidity and weakness.
2) Pallor or cyanosis may present
3) Coldness of the extremities occurs as a result of a diminished blood supply to the limb
Arguable the heart is the most important organ in the human body. Without the heart life would not be possible, it is responsible for getting nutrients and oxygen throughout the body by way of the circulatory system. Modern medicine has advanced greatly within the last 30 years and almost all heart diseases can be treated successfully if detected in time.
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a malformation of the large blood vessel near the heart. Congenital heart disease is one of the most common forms of major birth defects in newborns, affecting approximately 8 percent of infants and is normally diagnosed within one week from birth.
Prior to birth the fetus is not effected by this birth defect. The blood circulates differently prior to birth and the fetus derives oxygen and nutrients from the mother through the placenta. The fetal circulation has important communications between the upper heart chambers and the great blood vessels near the heart. Most types of congenital heart disease are well tolerated during fetal life and only present a problem after birth.
This disease can have different causes such as:
Environmental factors such as chemicals or drugs are sometimes to blame. If the mother develops measles or rubella, or consumes alcohol during pregnancy, the disease can impair the development of the fetus heart or other organs.
About 50 percent of children with Down's syndrome also have CHD. Down's Syndrome is caused by the presence of a single extra chromosome when the sperm cell and ovum join together. The general scientific option is that the extra chromosome produces extra enzymes in excessive quantity. It is believed that the excessive enzymes somehow cause them to interfere with each other and that the developing cells are inefficiently nourished and the bloodstream becomes clogged with the unused nutrients. As a result the organs and tissues do not mature properly. At birth the heart, lungs and brain are malformed and function poorly.
Common Vitamins and over the counter products can help with Heart Disease such as Boron, Vitamin E, Ginkgo, Vitamin B, Amino Acid, Oat Bran , and Vitamin C.
Boron is known as the calcium helper and assists calcium absorption and utilization in the body.
Vitamin E supplies Oxygen to the heart and the other muscles in the body. Accelerates wound healing and aids in the functioning of the immune system.
Ginkgo Plus supplies a comprehensive range of important nutrients needed for the proper functioning of the vascular system and for improving blood circulation to the brain.
Vitamin B taken together as a team perform vital biological processes including aiding in the healing process for congestive heart failure and reduces fluid retention. It is required for the development of red blood cells.
Amino Acid helps regulate growth, digestion and maintaining the body's immune system.
Oat Bran helps to regulate blood glucose levels, aids in lowering cholesterol, and helps in the removal of toxins.
Vitamin C is nature's protective nutrient, essential for defending the body against pollution and infection and enhances the bodies' immune system. Take 1,000 to 5,000 mg daily.
If you are at risk from Congenital Heart Disease then find a good health care professional prior to starting any type of home treatment.
Always consult your doctor before using this information.