Congenital Heart Disease: Causes, Risk Factors And Symptoms

The birth defect that tends to affect the normal functioning of the heart is known as congenital heart disease.

The term congenital itself means a condition since birth. It affects the heart valves, heart walls, and blood vessels.

Causes

Problems in the early development of the heart can result in congenital heart disease. Although research hasn’t found the exact reason for the failure in heart development, they presume that it may be due to the following reasons:

• Genes can be one cause of congenital heart disease. If heart defects seem to run in the family, the child is prone to congenital heart disease. It is related to many genetic syndromes.
• If a pregnant woman gets German measles (rubella) then it may affect the heart development of the child while in the womb.
• A child is at risk of a heart defect when alcohol and drugs are consumed during pregnancy.
• Smoking during pregnancy puts the baby at risk of developing a heart defect.
• In the first trimester of pregnancy, if the mother gets a viral infection then it is likely the child will be born with a heart defect.
• A child’s development is affected due to an increase in blood sugar levels.

Symptoms

• Abnormal heartbeat in the ultrasound during pregnancy.
• Breathlessness in the newborn.
• Trouble breathing
• Bluish lips, skin, fingers, and toes
• Chest pain
• Difficult in feeding
• Slow or delayed growth
• Low weight at birth

Congenital heart disease symptoms can also appear years later such as

• Dizziness
• Abnormal heartbeat
• Fatigue
• Fainting
• Swelling
• Trouble breathing

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