| Congenital heart disease is a malformation or type of | | | | The symptoms in adults of Congenital Heart Disease |
| defect in one of the structure of the heart, or the blood | | | | can include: |
| vessels in and around the heart. This damage occurs | | | | Limited ability to tolerate exercise |
| before you are born. It occurs when the fetus is in the | | | | Shortness of breath |
| uterus developing. And these issues affect eight to ten | | | | Heart murmur and abnormal heartbeat |
| out of every one thousand children. The children may | | | | When your doctor hears the abnormal beat, he or she |
| show symptoms at birth, or later in childhood, and | | | | will normally order an echocardiogram, a PET scan, |
| sometimes not until they become adults. Roughly five | | | | and MRI, EKG, chest X-ray, cardiac catheterization or |
| hundred thousand adults have congenital heart disease. | | | | IVUS test. |
| In most people affected by this disease, the cause it | | | | If you are diagnosed with congenital heart disease, |
| not known. But there are some common factors that | | | | your treatment will most likely be based on how |
| can be associated with the chance you have of | | | | serious your condition is. Some of the milder defects |
| developing heart disease. Among these risk factors | | | | will not require any treatment. Some other defects can |
| are: | | | | be treated with surgery, procedures or medications. |
| If a parent or sibling has congenital heart disease, the | | | | Most adults who have cardiac issues should be |
| children of a family member has double the risk of | | | | tracked by a cardiologist, so that they don't develop |
| contracting the disease. | | | | endocarditis, which is an infection of the valves of the |
| A viral infection in the mother, like Rubella, during the | | | | heart, that can become serious. |
| pregnancy's first trimester. | | | | People who suffer from congenital heart disease will |
| Taking certain medications or drug or alcohol abuse | | | | always be at risk of contracting endocarditis, even if |
| during pregnancy. | | | | their heart was replaced or repaired in surgery. In order |
| Chromosomal or genetic abnormalities in the child - like | | | | to prevent this development, cardiologists advise: |
| Down syndrome, etc. | | | | Take antibiotics when needed, before undergoing any |
| So, what are the different types of heart disease? | | | | surgical procedure that could cause you to bleed. This |
| The most common of congenital heart issues include: | | | | includes dental work (even teeth cleaning), minor |
| Abnormalities in the heart muscles, which can lead to | | | | surgeries and invasive tests. Your doctor will tell you |
| heart failure. | | | | how much of the antibiotic to take. |
| Defects in the atria and ventricles or the walls | | | | Be sure all your various specialists know that you have |
| between them. | | | | the heart defect. Carrying a card with this information |
| Heart valve defects, which include complete closure or | | | | on it can be helpful. |
| narrowing of the valves. Sometimes the issues | | | | Call your physician if you have infections like fever, |
| prevent the proper flow of blood, and sometimes it will | | | | body aches or sore throat. |
| cause leaking valves that don't close correctly - these | | | | Take proper care of your gums and teeth to keep |
| let blood leak after the heart pumps. | | | | infections away. Visit your dentist at least once a year. |