Health

Congenital Heart Disease

Congenital heart disease, also known as a congenital heart defect, is a condition when you have any abnormal normality in the heart since birth. It can be a small hole in the heart or a severe condition. Congenital heart disease can cause problems in the heart valves, heart wall, and blood vessels. 

 

Sometimes congenital heart diseases may not cause any problem, but sometimes they may need to get treated with surgery. They change the way blood flows in your heart. In some cases, the health care providers can diagnose a defect in the heart before birth. 

 

In some cases, congenital heart defects are not so serious, but sometimes, they can become life-threatening and need to be treated soon. Sometimes the symptoms of heart disease are not shown until you reach adulthood. 

 

Nowadays, congenital heart diseases are quite treatable because of advanced medical sciences. If you are diagnosed with congenital heart disease, you need to attend follow-up visits with your health care provider for a lifetime and get regular checkups. For an expert opinion, you can consult with a Cardiologist in Lahore.

 

What are the types of congenital heart disease?

 

 There are various kinds of diseases they can be listed as follows:

 

  • Atrial septal defect (ASD)
  • Atrioventricular canal defect
  • Bicuspid aortic valve
  • Coarctation of the aorta
  • Congenital heart defects in children
  • Congenital mitral valve anomalies
  • Double-outlet right ventricle
  • Ebstein anomaly
  • Eisenmenger syndrome
  • Hypoplastic left heart syndrome
  • Long QT syndrome
  • Partial anomalous pulmonary venous return
  • Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
  • Patent foramen ovale
  • Truncus arteriosus
  • Vascular rings
  • Ventricular septal defect (VSD)
  • Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome
  • Pulmonary atresia
  • Pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum
  • Pulmonary atresia with ventricular septum defect
  • Pulmonary valve stenosis
  • Tetralogy of Fallot
  • Total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR)
  • Transposition of the great arteries
  • Tricuspid atresia

 

What are the signs and symptoms of congenital heart diseases?

 

Congenital heart disease may not show any symptoms. However, sometimes it may show symptoms which may include: 

 

  • Arrhythmias- abnormal heart rhythm

 

  • Cyanosis- a blue tint on your lips, skin, and fingernails

 

  • Getting fatigued too early 

 

  • Breathlessness

 

  • Edema- swelling of organs or tissues

 

When should you visit a doctor?

 

If you have had surgery for congenital heart disease and get any symptoms such as increased heart rate or breathlessness, visit the health care provider soon. 

 

Even if you are healthy and have the same complaints, you should consult your doctor as it can be a sign of some underlying health condition.

 

What are the causes of congenital heart disease?

 

Now there’s nothing clear about what causes the defect in the heart. According to experts, it may occur because it runs in your family. If you have any family history of congenital heart disease, get your newborn checked for it, too. 

 

What are the risk factors for congenital heart disease?

 

Factors that can increase the risk factors for congenital heart disease are:

 

Genes

 

Your genes play a role in causing heart defects. If there is a genetic tendency of heart defects in your family, your child may also have it.

 

German Measles

 

German measles rubella may cause congenital heart defects in newborns.

 

Diabetes

 

Type 1 or type 2 diabetes during pregnancy can affect the heart development of your baby. But gestational diabetes does not increase the risk of congenital heart disease.

 

Medications 

 

Consuming certain medications during pregnancy can affect the heart development of your child. Therefore, give a complete and proper medication and disease history to your health care provider if you are pregnant.

 

Alcohol 

 

Consuming too much alcohol during pregnancy can lead to heart abnormalities in your newborn.

 

Smoking

 

Smoking cigarettes can increase the risk of heart defects in your child. Therefore, avoid smoking cigarettes, especially during pregnancy. 

 

If your child is diagnosed with congenital heart disease, you can take them to a cardiologist. To get an expert opinion, you can consult with the Best Cardiologist in Islamabad.

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