WHEN TINY HEARTS NEED HELP
Congenital heart defects are problems within the heart that are present at birth. These defects are not rare and occur in nearly 1 out of 100 newborn infants1. Depending on the specific type of defect, blood flow through the heart can be slower than usual, flow in the wrong direction or to the wrong place or be blocked completely. The major types of congenital heart diseases are associated with heart valves or small holes in the internal walls of the heart, that allow blood to flow improperly from one heart chamber to another.
For most infants, the cause of the heart defect is unknown. However, in some cases the defect could be caused by problems with the genes or chromosomes. Less commonly, the defect could be linked to the mother’s overall health, activities, or illnesses during pregnancy.
What are the symptoms of a congenital heart disease?
The symptoms of a congenital heart disease vary depending on the type of defect and at what age the patient, family member, or doctor notices symptoms. When the defects are minor, there may not be any symptoms.
How can a CONGENITAL HEART DEFECT be treated?
Some types of congenital heart defects, such as the small holes may close on their own in the first few days after birth. If not, treatment could be necessary.
There are several treatment options, but there is no single option that is right for every patient. If the defect is small, and there are few symptoms, waiting and giving the heart the time to resolve this problem on its own, could be preferred. Otherwise, starting medication to relieve symptoms or solve the defect would be necessary.
In other cases, treatment options include open-heart surgery or catheter-based procedures to repair the valves or close the opening.
