Congenital heart disease can describe a number of different conditions that are present at birth and that can affect the structure of a baby’s heart. These conditions vary from mild to severe, and can range from a small hole between the chambers of the heart, to missing or poorly formed portions of the heart.
It may not be possible to prevent congenital heart disease as, in most cases, the exact cause of the heart disease is not known. The causes are most likely due to a combination of multiple genetic and environmental factors. However, there are some guidelines you can follow to reduce the risk of your child developing heart disease. Read about these in Prevention.
If your child has been diagnosed with a congenital heart disease, the news is probably made you anxious and worried about your child's immediate and long-term health. However, learning about your child's congenital heart disease can help you understand his or her condition and what to expect in the near and distant future.
Which treatment is used, and how well your child responds to it, depends on the specific defect. Many congenital heart diseases need to be monitored carefully. Some may have no long-term effect on your child’s health, while others will need to be treated. Treatment can include medications, medical procedures or heart surgery.
Severe heart disease generally becomes evident within the first few months of life. Signs and symptoms may include:
If the heart problem is significant, your child's pediatrician or family physician will likely refer your child to a pediatric cardiologist. Pediatric cardiologists are trained to diagnose and treat heart problems in infants, children and young adults. They have the training and equipment to find out what tests and treatments your child will need, and how often your child will need heart checkups in the future.
Less serious congenital heart defects, such as ventricular septic defect, are usually diagnosed on a routine medical check and often not until later in life. There may not be any noticeable symptoms. However, when symptoms do exist, they may include:
If you notice these warning signs in yourself or your child, see your doctor. Your doctor can determine whether the problems being experienced are due to a heart defect or, in fact, the result of another medical condition.
Congenital heart disease can describe a number of different conditions that are present at birth and that can affect the structure of a baby’s heart. According to the National Institutes of Health , it is the most common type of birth defect and causes more deaths in the first year of life than any other birth defects.
Congenital heart diseases can vary from mild to severe. Common defects range from a small hole between the chambers of the heart, to missing or poorly formed portions of the heart, such as the valves or vessels. These diseases can affect how blood flows through the heart and out to the rest of the body.
Some of the potential health complications that can occur with a congenital heart disease include:
If it's possible your child has a congenital heart disease, your doctor may order several tests to determine the cause of any problems. In addition to a regular physical exam, these could include:
Which treatment is used, and how well your child responds to it, depends on the specific defect. Many congenital heart diseases need to be monitored carefully. Some may have no long-term effect on your child’s health, while others will need to be treated. Treatment can include medications, medical procedures or heart surgery.
It may not be possible to prevent congenital heart disease as, in most cases, the exact cause of the heart disease is not known. The causes are most likely due to a combination of multiple genetic and environmental factors. However, there are some guidelines you can follow to reduce the risk of your child developing heart disease. These include:
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