Symptoms and Treatment of Congenital Heart Disease in Adults
Symptoms and treatment of congenital heart disease in adults are different than those of children. A doctor who has experience with this condition will listen for irregular heart sounds, which can indicate structural abnormalities. An electrocardiogram can also be performed to measure the electrical activity of the heart. It can also detect abnormalities in the heart rhythm known as arrhythmia.
Treatment options for congenital heart disease in adults
Treatment options for congenital heart disease in an adult depend on the severity and type of defect. For some individuals, open-heart surgery is needed to repair the heart valves, close holes in the heart, or enlarge blood vessels. More serious cases may require a heart transplant. After surgery, the patient will require lifelong medical care. Treatment may involve regular health checkups, imaging tests, and occasional bloodwork.
Treatment options for congenital heart disease in an adult vary depending on the heart defect, symptoms, previous treatments, and other factors. A cardiologist will listen to the heart with a stethoscope and may perform an electrocardiogram or echocardiogram. The health care provider may also order an exercise test or perform other advanced imaging tests to determine the exact nature of the heart defect.
Treatment options for congenital heart disease in an adult may involve medications, catheter-based procedures, and/or surgery. However, some congenital heart diseases can be treated without undergoing surgery. For milder problems, such as a heart murmur or a pulmonary embolism, regular cardiac checkups are enough. Some patients may require antibiotics and blood thinners before undergoing surgery, to prevent infection.
Treatment for congenital heart disease in an adult may include surgery to correct any problems with heart valves and blood vessels. This may include valve replacements or artificial tubes to bypass congenital obstructions. Some patients may also require surgery to repair previous procedures. While the majority of adults do not require surgery to treat congenital heart defects, some people need to undergo a revision of their previous procedures.
If you have been diagnosed with congenital heart disease, you should consult a congenital heart care specialist. Your heart condition may have advanced and complicated complications and you should get a second opinion from an experienced cardiologist. You should also consider the possibility of transitioning to an adult congenital heart disease center. The doctors at these centers use a variety of diagnostic tests to determine whether you have a congenital heart defect.
Congenital heart defects can cause a number of complications, including a stroke, high blood pressure, or heart failure. In some cases, you can have a successful pregnancy without treatment, but you should check with your doctor to see if it’s safe for you. Some people can even have children with congenital heart disease if they get treatment as early as possible.
Common symptoms of congenital heart disease in adults
Adult congenital heart disease (CHD) is a condition that affects the heart and blood vessels. It can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and heart murmurs. Treatment options may include medications or implantable devices. In some cases, a heart defect may not cause any symptoms, but it’s still worth seeing a doctor.
Adults who have a congenital heart defect need regular monitoring to make sure they don’t develop more serious complications. Treatment may involve periodic checkups and medications to help regulate the heart rate. Some patients also require an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator or pacemaker to fix irregular heartbeats. If diagnosed early, such treatment may help the person maintain an active lifestyle and decrease the chance of further complications.
Diagnosis of congenital heart defects is often difficult until adulthood. The doctor may not notice symptoms until they are older, or a doctor may mistakenly order a test for another condition and find out that the patient has a heart defect. This is best done with a physician, who can monitor the patient over time to make sure it isn’t getting worse.
Adults with congenital heart defects often have periodic monitoring from a pediatric heart specialist. During these visits, doctors listen to the heart to detect irregular heart sounds, which may indicate structural issues. If these are suspected, doctors will use various tests to make sure the heart is functioning properly, including an electrocardiogram (ECG) that measures electrical activity in the heart.
Congenital heart disease can cause serious complications, including heart failure and stroke. In addition, it can lead to a lack of oxygen in the body, a decrease in blood supply to the brain, and can weaken the heart muscle. In some cases, pregnant women with congenital heart disease can successfully carry a child and deliver a healthy baby. However, if the condition is severe, the pregnancy can lead to complications and may not be safe.
Adults with congenital heart disease may develop an increased risk of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress. Managing these symptoms can be difficult, but ongoing medical care can help improve the condition.
Complications of congenital heart disease in adults
Although many children with congenital heart disease do survive into adulthood, there are also several complications that can arise. Depending on the severity of the condition, adults may require lifelong medical care. This may involve regular checkups and medications, as well as surgical procedures if necessary. Some people who develop congenital heart disease may not exhibit any symptoms until they reach adulthood. For this reason, it is important to seek medical care as soon as possible if you start experiencing any worrisome symptoms.
Complications of congenital heart disease occur in people of all ages, although the risk of developing certain conditions is higher in women than in men. For example, women are more likely than men to develop mitral valve prolapse, and they are also more likely to develop patent ductus arteriosus. Men are also more likely to develop tetralogy of Fallot and transposition of the great arteries. Children with Down syndrome and Turner syndrome are also at greater risk for these conditions.
Symptoms of adult congenital heart disease include trouble breathing, shortness of breath, and an abnormal heart rhythm. People with a congenital heart disorder may also develop symptoms related to an enlarged heart, including dizziness, shortness of breath, and fatigue.
Adults with congenital heart disease may require open-heart surgery or a heart transplant to correct the condition. After surgery, however, the patient will likely require lifelong follow-up care. This may include periodic health checkups, bloodwork, imaging exams, and screening for complications. The frequency of this care depends on the severity of the congenital heart disease.
Adult patients with congenital heart disease may benefit from a pacemaker or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. These devices can correct life-threatening irregular heartbeats. In addition to pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibration devices, catheter-based treatments may be used to repair some types of congenital heart disease. These treatments use thin, flexible tubes called catheters that are inserted through a blood vessel in the groin and guided to the heart. A tiny tool is then threaded through the catheter to repair the defect.
Genetic testing is available for certain types of congenital heart disease. This may be helpful if the patient’s parents have a family history of congenital heart disease. In addition, exposure to chemicals or medications during pregnancy can increase the risk of developing congenital heart disease. But in most cases, the cause of congenital heart disease is unknown.
Undiagnosed congenital heart disease in adults
Congenital heart defects are usually inherited, but they can also be present in adults. In some cases, adult congenital heart disease may appear in conjunction with other genetic disorders, such as Down syndrome or Turner syndrome. It can also be accompanied by symptoms of fatigue and cyanosis. Nevertheless, even in adults, the condition can be treatable with the use of advanced therapies.
Undiagnosed congenital heart disease can be serious and can lead to life-threatening complications. Symptoms vary based on the size of the defect. Small ventricular septal defects may be asymptomatic and close spontaneously. However, large ventricular septal defects can progress to heart failure and cause breathlessness or fatigue.
Adults with congenital heart defects should visit their doctor to be diagnosed as early as possible. They should undergo regular checkups to monitor the condition. If necessary, they may also need surgeries and medications. However, adult congenital heart disease may not cause any symptoms until adulthood, and symptoms may return years later. If symptoms are worrisome, you should seek emergency care. In some cases, it may be possible to correct the defect without surgery.
Although most congenital heart defects are detected in childhood, there are also people with these conditions that go undiagnosed until they’re adults. Fortunately, major medical and surgical advances have made the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions possible. Adults with congenital heart disease will benefit from multispecialty cardiac care.
The causes of adult congenital heart disease are not completely known. However, some types of congenital heart disease are inherited through family history. A heart is divided into chambers and has four valves. The right side pumps blood to the lungs, where it picks up oxygen and returns to the left side of the heart through pulmonary veins. The left side pumps blood through the aorta.
Catheter surgery is a treatment option for adult congenital heart defects. This is a minimally-invasive procedure wherein a thin tube is inserted into the heart. Several types of surgical tools can be passed through the catheter to repair the heart.
