Posted on 14th October, 2023 at 5:33:00 AM
The phrase 'congenital heart disease' refers to the various abnormalities of the heart which are present at birth. Other words, such as disorder, defect, condition, or problem, may be used instead of disease.
There are three main types of abnormalities :
There may be a narrowing (called 'stenosis') in parts of the heart, in its valves, or in the blood vessels outside the heart. This narrowing obstructs the flow of blood and puts strain on the heart muscle. In severe cases, the flow of blood past the obstruction may be reduced.
There may be holes in the partitions (septums) between the chambers of the heart. These allow blood to flow from one side of the heart to the other (called 'shunting'). As the blood pressure is higher in the left side, blood flows (shunts) from left to right and results in increased flow to the lungs. The normal communications present at birth may persist between the main blood vessels attached to the heart, e.g. Patent Ductus Arteriosus. This also results in increased blood flow to the lungs.
In most cases the cause of the heart abnormality is unknown. By the end of the 7th week of pregnancy, the heart is fully formed. It changes little in its basic structure until birth when the circulation of the blood alters as the lungs start to function. Major abnormalities in the development of the heart must therefore occur early in pregnancy.
Parents will naturally worry about things which might have affected the formation of their child's heart. In most cases, the heart abnormality is only an unfortunate occurrence that has not resulted from any identifiable cause. However, in some cases, there are genetic errors which are responsible for the problem. If this is at all likely you may be offered a consultation with a geneticist.
Some illnesses in a pregnant mother may result in abnormalities in her baby's heart and vessels. One example is German measles (rubella), if contracted early in the pregnancy. Occasionally medications or alcohol taken during the pregnancy can cause problems - though small quantities of alcohol are not likely to cause harm. Many medications, which are needed during pregnancy for a wide variety of reasons and are prescribed by a doctor, do not lead to any damage to the baby. Smoking is certainly very undesirable during pregnancy, as it has adverse effects on the growth of the baby and is associated with an increased rate of premature birth and stillbirth. However, there is no evidence linking smoking with heart problems in babies.
