Introduction
Heart is that organ of the body which pumps blood to all other organs and parts, thereby ensuring their life and functioning. So the function of heart is not merely “beating” as most of us think so. It is the life saving organ and a little malfunctioning of the heart can result in serious losses. There are numerous heart diseases that have been spreading among people since ages. However, there is no age limit to the vulnerability to such diseases. The congenital heart diseases remove this mistake made by many of us that heart disease only occurs to aged people or those having a cholesterol or anxiety problem. The congenital heart diseases can occur among children even at the time of their birth.
History
There are certain diseases and defects which are present since birth among children and which continue to stay in their bodies as they grow up. But with the advancement of science and technology such diseases can now be cured easily. Hence, they do not remain with the child forever. One of these is the congenital heart diseases (CDH) which are prevalent among the children since they are born. These diseases in turn lead to the malfunctioning of the heart along with distortion of its structure. Being one of the most common heart defects among the infants, more than 35,000 per year become the victim of this. As mentioned earlier, due to the improvements in the treatment and medicine, this disease is now curable. Hence, it has ensured a healthy life for kids afflicted with it in future. Among these, a number of children live a healthy life up till adulthood.
Features
Since an infant’s body is vulnerable to many diseases, they must be taken care of. For this purpose there are certain facts about congenital heart diseases which one must be aware of. Firstly, this disease changes the course of blood flowing from the heart to the veins, arteries, valves and vessels. Most of these diseases produce no symptoms and signs at early stages. So this makes it difficult to diagnose them. However, if the disease gets fatal it is characterized by symptoms like fast breath, feeling lethargic and a murmuring sound produced on the stethoscope of the doctor. Now, when the disease is detected it is followed by a series of tests like the echocardiogram, X-rays, cardiac MRI and continuous checking of blood pressure and heart beat. In most cases among the infants a constant watch by a cardiologist is required. Coming to the treatment, it all depends upon the intensity of the disease as well as the age of the victim. Sometimes a surgery is recommended too.
Tips and comments
People suffering with congenital heart diseases must alter their entire lifestyle accordingly. They should undergo regular checkups of blood pressure and heart beat. They should also be prepared for another surgery and treatment. Apart from this, they should inform all other doctors about their disease and ensure that no bacteria enter into their blood. And lastly, they should exercise daily to regulate the blood flow.
