Congenital
means present from birth. So, congenital heart defects refer to a number of
different conditions that can occur when a baby’s heart is forming or at birth.
As a result, the heart—or the major vessels in and around it—may not develop or
work the way they should. It is the most common type of birth defect. As per
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1 out of 100 babies are
born with some sort of structural heart defect, affecting about 40,000 infants
a year. Some examples of congenital heart disease are atrial septal defect,
coarctation of the aorta, and aortic stenosis.
Before
furthering with our discussion, we want to bring your focus to the life-saving
CPR procedures which comprises chest compressions and rescue breaths. Proper administration
of the procedures can revive the life of a victim involved in a cardiac
emergency which can either be a cardiac arrest or heart attack. If you belong
to the Louisville region in Kentucky, you can sign up for a program at the AHA
certified CPR Louisville. There are courses for both healthcare as well as
non-healthcare providers. Read to know more about a “BLS class Louisville”.
BLS Training Classes- The first time Basic Life Support
for Healthcare Providers Class, a.k.a. BLS Class is geared towards training
individuals currently working in healthcare or planning a career in healthcare.
In the first time BLS class, students will learn adult, child, and infant CPR.
Students will also be trained on the use of an automated external
defibrillator, or AED. Because this CPR class is for healthcare providers,
there will be added training on how to use and perform rescue breaths using a
bag valve mask. This device is found in hospitals, offices, and many other
healthcare facilities. The BLS class training concludes with time dedicated to
learning how to rescue choking infants, children, and adults. CPR Louisville
allows students plenty of hands on practice and time to master the skills of
BLS for Healthcare Providers.
The program
fee is $70.
Congenital Heart Defects:
I.
With
the advancement in treatments, there has been an increase in the survival rates
among victims. Most defects are found during pregnancy by ultrasound or in
early childhood while some defects aren’t discovered until adulthood.
II.
It
can be scary if you or your child have a heart defect. The good news is there
are a number of treatment options which depends on the type of defect and the
symptoms. It is advisable that you find a cardiologist that specializes in
congenital heart defects.
Exercise:
It is recommended
for children and adults with congenital heart defects to be active and get
regular exercise. There are no exercise restrictions in that way but restrictions on the intensity or
type of exercise might be needed which depends on the type or severity of the
defect. Regular physical activity can help keep the heart and body healthy.
Consult a doctor who can help create a set of activities at a level that is
safe and healthy for you or your child. A healthcare provider will also be able
to suggest you the target heart rate goals and limits, how long to exercise,
and how often to exercise.
Tests before Exercise:
It is
advisable for anyone with a heart defect to check with a doctor before starting
an exercise or sports program. A stress test EKG (a type of electrocardiogram) is often done to find out
the effect of exercise on the heart. This test is sometimes done along with a
type of echocardiogram to measure how the heart responds to exercise.
Hope this information comes for your help. For
more information, contact CPR Louisville on 502-804-6132.
