Congenital heart disease is a group of more than one abnormality of the heart present from birth. It is one of the most common types of birth related disease found amongst children and infants. In cases of congenital heart disease, the blood vessels or the heart does not grow normally during birth leading to various heart related issues.
Birth related heart disease is responsible to affect the walls, valves, and the blood vessels of the heart. Diseases from abnormal heart growth is rarely serious or life threatening but needs constant monitoring by the doctors. However, nowadays with advanced scanning and screening technologies, congenital heart diseases are easily identifiable prior to giving birth to a child.
Some of the most common congenital heart diseases are:
- Bicuspid aortic valve
- Long QT syndrome
- Congenital mitral valve anomalies
- Pulmonary valve stenosis
- Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome
- Tricuspid atresia, and
- Atrioventricular canal defect
Risk Factors:
- Infections during pregnancy
- Smoking and alcohol during consumption during pregnancy
- External injury due to some accidents
- The mother having diabetic or other health conditions
- Genetic inheritance
Signs and Symptoms:
- Irregularities of the heartbeat
- Irregularities in breathing
- Tiredness and fatigue
- Physical abnormalities
Usually mild congenital heart diseases are ignored or treated with the help of proper lifestyle and eating habits. However, in case of severity, operations are made available for treatment.
