CONGENITAL HEART DISEASES

Congenital Heart Disease: Definition, symptoms and treatment Essay:

Congenital heart diseases (also referred to as defects) are deformities that are present from birth and impede normal circulation of blood in the heart.

Most congenital heart diseases are common; the most common are those that affect the valves, walls, and large blood vessels of the heart. Most defects are moderate and do not require treatment, while others require immediate post-birth intervention. Signs and symptoms of heart disease before, during, or shortly after pregnancy indicate various deformities that are present at birth, which your doctor can help you identify through specific heart screening tests. Therefore, this paper discusses congenital heart disease, its signs, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

The Different Types of Congenital Heart Diseases Include:

Cyanotic congenital heart disease

Acyanotic congenital heart disease.

Cyanotic congenital heart disease:

This category is characterized by the inability of the heart to deliver oxygen-saturated blood to the body. Newborns with this condition present with diminished oxygen in the blood and typically require surgery. This category includes the following:

Left heart obstructive lesions: These are defects that result when the blood vessels in the left heart fail to reach the body; this causes a reduction in the volume of blood pumped out by the heart. This category includes Hypoplastic left heart syndrome and Interrupted aortic arch, among others.

Right heart obstructive lesions: These are defects that occur when the blood vessels in the right heart fail to carry blood to the lungs; this causes a reduction in the volume of blood transported to the lungs. This category includes Tetralogy of Fallot, Ebstein’s anomaly, Pulmonary atresia, Tricuspid atresia.

Acyanotic congenital heart disease:

This category is characterized by malfunction of the circulatory system; this results in various deformities that include improper functioning of the aorta and pulmonary artery and abnormal openings in the heart. This condition is either mild or severe; people born with this condition are unable to perform strenuous activities due to the weakness in their body. The most common defects in this category are Aortic stenosis, Pulmonic stenosis, Coarctation of the aorta, Bicuspid aortic valve, Atrial Septal defect (ASD), Ventricular Septal defect (VSD), Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).

Congenital heart disease occurs when the fetal heart is malformed long before birth.

It is unclear what causes congenital heart diseases; however, several risk factors have been identified. Most heart defects are primarily attributed to the fact that the heart was poorly formed in the first eight weeks following conception. The risk factors for congenital heart defects include a family history of heart problems, for example, Down’s syndrome. If the mother was infected with the rubella virus, consumed alcohol or tobacco, and was on medication for acne or cholesterol during conception, there is an increased likelihood that the fetus will have congenital heart defects. Similarly, if the mother had diabetes, she is also likely to have a child with congenital heart defects.

The symptoms of congenital heart diseases include:

Fatigue

Rapid or difficult breathing

Extreme sleepiness

Heart murmurs

Poor circulation

Pounding heart

Swelling around the abdomen or legs and eyes

Heart or artery defect often detected during a routine prenatal ultrasound test. However, if an abnormality is suspected, a fetal echocardiogram can be performed to discover more details about the heart defect. The pulse oximetry test is a rapid and simple procedure that can help the doctor determine congenital heart defects after birth by identifying bluish-colored skin (cyanosis). The following diagnostic procedures can be used to confirm congenital heart diseases:

Physical examination: This is a general screening test that helps detect abnormalities in the body, including the heart. The physician uses a stethoscope to examine the heart and listen for murmurs or irregular heartbeats. The physician will also look for other abnormal signs or irregularities in the body.

Chest x-ray: This is an imaging procedure that helps take pictures of the heart and lungs. The scan helps rule out other underlying conditions that may be the cause of the symptoms.

Electrocardiogram: This is a test that helps identify the electrical activity of the heart.

An echocardiogram: This is a test that uses ultrasound imaging to capture images of the heart. It is helpful in examining the heart’s valves and chambers.

Heart catheterization or coronary angiography: This procedure helps capture images of the heart and blood vessels to determine the extent of circulation. In addition, it also helps in examining how much the heart can pump.

MRI: This is a scan that helps capture images of the heart.

Treatment of congenital heart disease involves a wide range of treatments and procedures to intervene with the severity of the condition. Although most congenital heart diseases do not require treatment, there are several treatment options for heart conditions such as medication, procedures, surgeries, and transplants for heart failures. The most common treatments for congenital heart diseases include:

Drugs to increase heart power and reduce pressure in the heart.

A procedure that involves the use of a catheter to close off certain areas of the heart.

Non-surgical treatment for congenital heart disease using closure devices.

Oxygen therapy is a form of intervention that is used to treat patients who are anemic or have low levels of oxygen in the blood. This involves administering oxygen from an external source into the patient’s body to boost the amount of oxygen in the blood.

Prostaglandin E1 helps to open heart muscles and improve blood circulation. The medication is administered to relax the artery and reduce the pressure in the heart. Surgical procedures such as artery opening and surgery to bypass and re-route the vessels are performed. Heart transplantation is also a form of treatment for congenital heart diseases affecting individuals severely.

Conclusion

Congenital heart disease entails defects that are present in individuals from birth. Diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects begin at a very early age or adulthood depending on the type of deformity. In some cases, heart defects only manifest signs and symptoms that suggest the presence of the disease in adults, hence the importance of screening processes. Therefore, if one is experiencing fatigue, challenges breathing, weakness, or heartburn, it is essential to seek medical attention to ascertain whether they have a congenital heart condition.