Signs of Congenital Heart Disease
There is no doubt that the heart is among the most sensitive organs in the human body. It is advisable to seek quick medical attention at the slightest sign of a heart problem. With the rising number of congenital heart disease cases, medical experts are leaving nothing to chance regarding awareness creation among people. Congenital heart defects are heart complications that negatively affect the normal functioning of the heart. While most heart diseases are detectable during pregnancy, some manifest at birth, and they can be quite lethal in the case of delayed treatment.
Types of Congenital Heart Disease
Congenital heart defects come in different forms; most heart defects fall into either of these three categories:
In heart valve defects
The main purpose of a heart valve is to direct blood; when heart valves experience leakage or a serious obstruction, the heart will not pump blood correctly, hence prompting heart disease.
In the heart wall, defects
The heart is usually divided into two chambers, the lower chamber, and the upper chamber. High blood pressure occurs when the wall on the left and right sides of the heart is not well developed.
In blood vessel defects
The role played by the arteries and veins in circulating blood within the heart is undisputable. However, when the arteries and veins cease to function correctly, serious heart problems may be experienced since smooth blood flow is affected.
What are the signs of congenital heart disease?
Heart experts have continued to emphasize the need for expectant mothers to visit their doctor or clinic regularly. In most cases, congenital heart disease can be detected at the pregnancy stage. A doctor will detect any heart defect through a pregnancy ultrasound procedure and perform tests to help determine the current heart condition. Here are symptoms that indicate that a newborn baby might be having congenital heart disease;
Delayed growth
When a child is growing and developing slowly, there are high chances of having congenital heart disease. For a child to grow and develop well, the heart must adequately play its key role of pumping blood to meet the body’s various needs. This is usually not the case when it comes to a defective heart.
Trouble breathing
A child with congenital heart disease will experience breathing problems since a congenital heart will automatically disrupt the flow of blood to the heart, affecting oxygen levels.
Feeding difficulties
Infants with congenital heart disease have feeding problems because their bodies and hearts work harder to transport oxygen and blood to all body parts. This accelerates the speed at which calories are burnt, interfering with an infant’s ability to feed well.
Bluish skin, fingers, and toes
The easiest way to detect if a child has a congenital heart defect is by looking at the color of their skin. A bluish skin, fingers, or toes is a clear indication that the body lacks sufficient oxygen. A congenital heart defect in infants mainly causes a lack of sufficient oxygen in the body.
Final thought
Every parent has to know the health condition of their child’s heart. This allows for early treatment that can improve the victim’s quality of life.