Congenital Heart Defect
Bianca Whearwood B1
Conenital Heart Defect
Congenital Heart Defect is an abnormality in your heart's structure that you're born with.
Causes/ how is it aquired
It is caused by abnormal formation of the heart during fetal development. In most cases, when a baby is born with congenital heart disease, there is no known reason for it.
Can it be Prevented
there's no guaranteed way of avoiding having a baby with the condition.
However, if you're pregnant, this can help reduce the risk:
- Ensure you are vaccinated against rubella and flu.
- Avoid drinking alcohol or taking drugs.
- Take 400 micrograms of folic acid supplement a day during the first trimester (first 12 weeks) of your pregnancy
Symptoms
Many cause few or no signs and symptoms. A doctor may not even detect the signs during a physical exam.They depend on the number, type, and severity of the defects.These signs and symptoms may include:
- Rapid breathing
- Cyanosis (a bluish tint to the skin, lips, and fingernails)
- Fatigue (tiredness)
- Poor blood circulation
How Can it be detected?
Some are now picked up when the mother has an ultrasound scan during pregnancy (usually at the 20-week scan), but sometimes they are not found until after the baby has been born. Some conditions may not be discovered until the child is older or even an adult. More common symptoms include extreme tiredness, poor feeding, excessive sweating, rapid heartbeat, breathing problems, chest pain and a blue tinge to the skin
Treatment
Not all people require treatment. Some may only need to be observed and visit their cardiologist. In other cases, surgery or a cardiac catheterization may be needed to reduce the effects of and/or repair the defect.