Congenital heart disease: Every Indian should know about this heart birth defect

Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) is the most common type of birth defect. Know more.

CHD occurs due to a problem with the structure of the heart. It is the most common type of birth defect involving the heart walls, the valves, arteries and veins. As per Padma Shri Awardee, Dr K K Aggarwal, President, HCFI, Most CHDs can be corrected surgically, and the child can live a near normal life. In India, lakhs of children die every year as they cannot afford surgical intervention. CHDs can be classified as a blue baby or a non-blue baby. There was a time when no cure was available but today, many hospitals are performing surgeries in children with congenital heart disease with excellent outcomes.

Signs and symptoms:

• Rapid breathing
• Cyanosis - a bluish tint to the skin, lips, and fingernails
• Fatigue
• Poor blood circulation

The treatment:

• Depends on the type and severity of the defect. Mild defects in babies heal with the time. But, extensive treatment is required for the ones with severe defects.
• According to the defect, the treatment will be given after birth, during childhood or in the adulthood.
• So diagnosis and treatment may be delayed, as the defects don t cause any symptoms until the child becomes an adult.

How to prevent it?

• Consult your doctor before consuming any over-the-counter medications if you are pregnant or trying to conceive.
• Keep your blood sugar levels under control before conceiving.
• Ask your doctor about genetic screening, if you have a family history of congenital heart defects.
• Avoid drinking alcohol and using illegal drugs during pregnancy.

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