CONDITIONS   I   CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE

 

Congenital heart disease is an abnormality affecting the heart which is present at birth. This congenital abnormality can affect the heart's valves, walls and blood vessels. As a result, this severely impairs the heart's function. Therefore, a limited flow of blood circumvents the body's channels. Furthermore, we can categorise congenital heart disease into three categories: 

  • Defects affecting the heart valves can lead to the valves leaking or closing up too soon. As a result, the heart cannot pump blood effectively.
  • Defects in the heart’s walls cause the poor development of the chambers of the heart. Therefore, blood accumulates in areas where blood should not pool.
  • Defects affecting the heart’s blood vessels interfere with the transportation of blood to the heart and out of the body.


What are the signs?

Congenital heart disease in a newborn causes blue lips, skin and toes. Other symptoms in newborns are:

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Trouble feeding
  • Angina
  • Poor development

Adults experience the following symptoms:

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Swelling
  • Lethargy


What causes the condition?

Congenital heart disease is due to early development affecting the formation of the heart’s structure. A congenital abnormality interrupts the natural flow of blood through the heart’s chambers.

The heart may fail to develop adequately due to the following:

  • A family history of heart defects
  • Taking prescription medication during pregnancy
  • Alcohol or narcotic intake during pregnancy
  • Viral infection during pregnancy (the first trimester)
  • Hypertension


How do you diagnose congenital heart disease?

Diagnostic tests include an electrocardiogram, echocardiogram and stress test, x-ray of the chest, cardiac catheterisation and MRI of the heart. Some more detailed than the rest, all these tests provide detailed imaging of the inside of the heart's structure.


What does treatment involve?

While some babies with heart abnormalities heal in time, some patients require surgery or medical treatment based on the severity of the symptoms.

Treatment for congenital heart disease involves the use of implantable devices (pacemakers & cardioverter defibrillators) and surgery such as catheter repair, whereby doctors thread surgical tools via the catheter to repair the defect. In some cases, Dr Hassen will recommend open-heart surgery if catheter repair is not possible.

FAQ

1Can a blood test be used to screen for congenital heart disease?
A blood test can detect defects in the chromosomes linked to congenital heart disease.
2When does congenital heart disease begin?
Congenital heart disease can occur when the child is much older, between five to ten years. Usually, round-the-clock tiredness is a common sign of a heart defect.
3What is the best way to check for congenital heart disease?
An echocardiogram is the best test for a congenital heart-related defect. An echocardiogram is labelled an “ultrasound movie”, displaying moving images of the interior of the heart.