Blog

  • Congenital heart diseases or defect (CHDs)

    Congenital heart diseases or defect (CHDs) is one of the most common types of birth defect
    that affect the structure of a baby’s heart and the normal way the heart works. They can affect
    the blood flows through the heart and out to the rest of the body. CHDs can vary from mild
    (such as a small hole in the heart) to severe (such as missing or poorly formed parts of the
    heart).
    About 1 in 4 babies born with a heart defect has a critical CHD (also known as critical
    congenital heart disease). 1  Babies with a critical CHD need surgery or other procedures in the
    first year of life, sometimes even just after birth immediately.
    Causes
    The causes of CHDs among most babies are not known very well. Some babies have heart
    defects because of changes in their individual genes or chromosomes. CHDs also are thought
    to be caused by a combination of genes and other factors, such as things in the environment,
    the mother’s diet, the mother’s health conditions, or the mother’s medication use during
    pregnancy. For example, certain conditions a mother has, like pre-existing diabetes or obesity,
    have been linked to heart defects in the baby. 2,3  Smoking during pregnancy as well as taking
    certain medications have also been linked to heart defects. 2,3
    Types
    There are many types of congenital heart disease and they sometimes occur in combination.
    Usually it is classified as Cyanotic (complex, right to left shunt) and non-cyanotic (non-
    complex, left to right shunt) congenital heart disease. Some of the most common CHDs
    include:
    1. Septal defect – where there is a hole between left and right of the heart’s chamber.
    2. Coarctation of the heart- where the main large artery of the body, called the aorta, is
    narrow than normal.
    3. Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) – where several defects combined, including ventricular
    septal defect, pulmonary valve and/or pulmonary artery stenosis, right ventricular
    hypertrophy and overriding aorta.
    4. Pulmonary valve stenosis – where the pulmonary valve, which controls the flow of
    blood out of the lower right heart to the lungs, is narrow than normal.
    5. Transposition of the great arteries – where the pulmonary and aorta valves and the
    arteries they are connected to have switched positions.
    6. Underdevelpoed heart – part of the heart does not develop properly making it difficult
    for pumping enough blood around the body or lungs.
    Signs and Symptoms
    Signs and symptoms for CHDs depend on the type and severity of the particular defect. Some
    defects might have few or no signs or symptoms. Others might cause a baby to have the
    following symptoms:
     Blue-tinted nails or lips
     Rapid or troubled breathing
     Rapid heartbeat
     Tiredness and rapid breathing when feeding
     Sleepiness

     Easy to catch cold and pneumonia
     Swelling of the legs, tummy or around the eyes
     Extreme tiredness and fatigue
     Heart murmur
    Diagnosis
    Some CHDs may be diagnosed during pregnancy using a special type of ultrasound called a
    fetal echocardiogram, which creates ultrasound pictures of the heart of the developing baby.
    However, some CHDs are not detected until after birth or later in life, during childhood or
    adulthood. If a healthcare provider suspects a CHD may be present, such as blue colour or
    with a heart murmur, the baby can get some tests (such as echocardiogram, ECG X ray and
    catheterization) to confirm the diagnosis.
    Treatment
    Treatment for CHDs depends on the type and severity of the defect present. Some affected
    infants and children might need one or more open heart surgeries to repair the heart or blood
    vessels.
    Some can be treated without surgery, just using a procedure called cardiac catheterization
    intervention therapy. A long tube, called a catheter, is threaded through the blood vessels into
    the heart, where a doctor can take measurements and pictures, do tests, or repair the problem.
    Sometimes the heart defect cannot be fully repaired, but these procedures can improve blood
    flow and the way the heart works. It is important to note that even if their heart defect has
    been repaired, many people with CHD are not cured.
    By
    Dr.Feiqiong

    References
    1. Oster M, Lee K, Honein M, Colarusso T, Shin M, Correa A. Temporal trends in
    survival for infants with critical congenital heart defects. Pediatrics. 2013;
    131(5):e1502-8.
    2. Jenkins KJ, Correa A, Feinstein JA, Botto L, Britt AE, Daniels SR, Elixson M,
    Warnes CA, Webb CL. Noninherited risk factors and congenital cardiovascular
    defects: current knowledge: a scientific statement from the American Heart
    Association Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young: endorsed by the
    American Academy of Pediatrics. Circulation. 2007;115(23):2995-3014.
    3. Patel SS, Burns TL. Nongenetic risk factors and congenital heart defects. Pediatr
    Cardiol. 2013;34(7):1535-55.
  • The importance of Eating Breakfast Regularly

    People say eating in the morning is simply breaking our overnight fast.
    A well-balanced diet is very important for breakfast.
    Breakfast skipping has been found very common these days which can lead to increased risk
    of heart diseases and diabetes.
    A journal from circulation and many other studies says “People who skipped breakfast were
    27% prone to increased risks of obesity with low HDL-cholesterol, elevated triglycerides, and
    high LDL-cholesterol which leads to developing coronary heart disease.
    There are evidences which show that regular breakfast can protect against type 2 diabetes.
    Breakfast stabilizes glucose levels, 15% to 21% higher chance of developing type 2 diabetes
    compared to those people who eat breakfast regularly.
    Breakfast gives energy to the body and shows an increase in physical activity throughout the
    day and prevents fatigue.
    Children who have regular breakfast, have better IQ, memory and better behavior in school as
    well as in academic performance.
    Therefore the conclusion is:
    Breakfast boosts your metabolism. Breakfast keeps your blood sugar levels stable during the
    day. Breakfast reduces risks of overeating and craving for food later in the day. Breakfast
    helps in better concentration and performance. Overall, breakfast helps to maintain a healthy
    weight.
    By
    Dr.Aravind

  • Hello world!

    Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing!