A congenital
heart defect (CHD) is a structural problem with the heart that’s present at
birth. Such defects occur due to a mishap during heart development soon after
conception – often before the mother is aware that she is pregnant. CHD range in severity from simple
problems, such as “holes” between chambers of the heart, to very severe
malformations, such as the complete absence of one or more chambers or valves.
CHD increases the risk for other medical conditions like:
1. Pulmonary hypertension
2. Arrhythmias
3. Infective endocarditis
4. Anticoagulation
5. Congestive heart failure
It is
important to keep the heart in good shape for keeping cardiac emergencies at
bay. No one can predict the occurrence of a cardiac emergency which can be a
cardiac arrest or heart attack. A victim would require immediate treatment for
survival. It is advisable for individuals to sign up for a CPR class Louisville to keep life-threatening emergencies at bay.
The CPR procedures include chest compressions and rescue breaths. Being a
resident of the Louisville region, you can sign up for a program at the AHA
certified CPR Louisville. There are courses for both healthcare and
non-healthcare providers.
Congenital Heart Defect Facts:
1. Not all heart problems in children
are congenital but most are. Possible childhood heart problems include structural
defects, acquired damage and heart rhythm disturbances. Children also can be born with or
develop heart rate problems such as slow, fast or irregular heartbeats, known
as “arrhythmias.”
2. The reason behind the occurrence of
CHD isn’t known. The reason is presumed to be genetic, only a few genes have been discovered that have
been linked to heart defects. CHD due to ingestion of some drugs and the
occurrence of some infections during pregnancy is very rare.
3. You can tell if your baby or child
has a congenital heart defect just in the first few months after birth.
Some babies are blue or have
very low blood pressure shortly after birth. Other defects cause breathing
difficulties, feeding problems or poor weight gain.
4. Most people with CHD live normal or
nearly normal healthy lives with all children with simple defects surviving
into adulthood. Some children with CHD may have developmental delay or learning
difficulties.
5. Successful treatment of CHD requires
specialized care which means one should be ready with extensive financial resources.
Additionally, a serious congenital heart defect can put an enormous emotional
and financial strain on young families.
A few
factors related to CHD may interfere with your baby’s growth like:
1. Excessively rapid heart beat
2. Increased respiratory rate
3. Poor appetite
4. Greater caloric needs
5. Decreased food intake due to rapid
breathing and fatigue
6. Frequent respiratory infections, such
as bronchitis or pneumonia
7. Poor absorption of nutrients from the
digestive tract
8. Decreased oxygen in the blood, called
hypoxia
Some
children with CHD may have delays in development, learning disabilities or
special educational needs but mostly, a child with CHD can attend school and
participate fully. Keep in mind that diagnosing and treating congenital heart
defects with surgery is costly, so remain prepared.
At CPR Louisville, either register online for a
course or call on 502-804-6132 for the same. All of our instructors are
American Heart Association certified. Each has gone through the rigorous
training that the AHA requires in order to be certified to teach classes. After
they complete the actual instructor class, they are then carefully monitored
while teaching their own class. This monitoring includes looking for proper AHA
procedure, as well as ensuring that accurate information is being disseminated
to the students.
