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Everything You Need to Know About Adult Congenital Heart Disease

Congenital heart disease cannot be avoided. It is a condition one has to deal with since birth.

There is a structural defect in the blood vessels present in the heart.

To give you a gist, the heart does not develop as it should when the fetus is in the uterus during the pregnancy.

A cardiologist will tell you that there are several types of congenital heart diseases, including:

  • Atrial and ventricular septal defects
  • Coarctation of the Aorta (CoA)
  • Congenital valve defects
  • Pulmonary Hypertension
  • Ebstein Anomaly
  • Patent Foramen Ovale

There are several other types that your doctor can better describe with an appointment.

Symptoms of Congenital Heart Disease

There is a chance that detecting the condition might happen:

  • During the pregnancy
  • Immediately after birth
  • As the child is growing
  • Later in adult life

The delay happens due to the lack of evidence. At times, people do not show any symptoms that would lead a cardiologist to believe they suffer from congenital heart disease.

There have been cases where the symptoms have returned years after being treated for a heart condition.

You can keep a lookout for the following when in doubt:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Arrhythmias or irregular heartbeats
  • Getting tired easily
  • Cyanosis or having a slightly blue tint on fingernails, skin, and lips
  • Edema when organs or tissues in the body swell

Diagnosis of the Condition

If you have any doubts that you might be suffering from adult congenital heart disease, then you must visit a cardiology hospital.

There are several ways to detect the condition, of which the most common one is looking for a murmur.

Other tests include:

  • Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)
  • Echocardiogram
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
  • Transesophageal echocardiogram
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
  • Cardiac catheterization
  • Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
  • Chest x-ray

Treating Congenital Heart Disease

Every person will be affected differently due to the condition. The severity will determine the course of action taken by the cardiologist doctor of your choice.

The milder cases of congenital heart disease do not require any treatment. On the other hand, certain cases may require invasive surgeries and heavy doses of mediation.

It is a must that you find a doctor that has the professional and mental capacity to deal with such an intense condition.

Conclusion

Although there isn’t enough information on how and why some people get congenital heart disease while others don’t, it is often believed that people inherit the condition from their elders.

Anything from your genes, diabetes, alcohol and even certain medications can play a crucial role in increasing your chances of suffering from congenital heart disease.

You want to reduce the risk factors. And in case the situation goes downhill, it is advised to keep in touch with a cardiologist doctor.

Specialists at Pranayam Lung and Heart Institute (PLHI) take into consideration your medical history and formulate the best plan of action.

Being a cardiology hospital, our doctors know that congenital heart disease has several risk factors that may drastically change a person’s life. We’re here to help you. Enquire about Pranayam Lung & Heart Institute which is known as one of the best hospitals in Vadodara.

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