Complications of congenital heart disease

 

Children and adults with congenital heart disease are at an increased risk of developing further problems.

 

Problems with development

Many children with congenital heart disease experience delays in their development. For example, they may take longer to start walking or talking. They may also have lifelong problems with physical co-ordination.

Some children with congenital heart disease also have learning difficulties. These are thought to be caused by a poor oxygen supply during early life, which affects the development of the brain.

Natural intelligence is usually unaffected, but some children often perform well below the academic level they would be expected to reach.

This is due to problems such as:

• impaired memory


• problems expressing themselves using language


• problems understanding the language of others


• low attention span and difficulty concentrating


• poor planning abilities


• poor impulse control – acting rashly without thinking about the possible consequences

Recent research has found that children who have had surgery for transposition of the great arteries have significant problems understanding a concept known as theory of mind (TOM)

TOM is the ability to understand other people’s mental state and recognise that they may differ from your own. In other words, to recognise that everyone has their own set of desires, intentions, beliefs, emotions, perspective, likes and dislikes. In simple terms, TOM is the ability to see the world through another person’s eyes.

An inability to recognise other people’s mental states can lead to problems with social interaction and behaviour in later life.

 

Respiratory tract infections

The risk of developing respiratory tract infections (RTIs) is higher in people with congenital heart disease. RTIs are infections of the lungs and airways, such as pneumonia.

Symptoms of an RTI can include:

• a cough, which can be severe and bring up phlegm and mucus


• wheezing


• rapid breathing


• chest tightness

Treatment for an RTI depends on the cause. For example, infections caused by bacteria can be treated with antibiotics.

 

Endocarditis

People with congenital heart disease also have an increased risk of developing endocarditis. This is an infection of the lining of the heart and/or valves. If it’s not treated, it can cause life-threatening damage to the heart.

Symptoms of endocarditis can include:

• a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above


• chills


• loss of appetite


• headache


• muscle and joint pain


• night sweats


• shortness of breath


• persistent cough

Endocarditis will need to be treated in hospital with injections of antibiotics.

The condition usually develops when an infection in another part of the body, such as on the skin or the gums, spreads through the blood into the heart.

As gum disease can potentially lead to endocarditis, if you have congenital heart disease, it is very important to maintain excellent oral hygiene.

It is also usually recommended not to have any cosmetic procedure involving piercing the skin, such tattoos or body piercings.

 

Pulmonary hypertension

Some types of congenital heart disease can cause the blood pressure inside the arteries that connect the heart and lungs to be much higher than it should be. This is known as pulmonary hypertension.

Symptoms of pulmonary hypertension can include:

• shortness of breath


• extreme tiredness


• dizziness


• feeling faint


• chest pain


• a rapid heartbeat

A range of medications can be used to treat pulmonary hypertension. Read more about treating pulmonary hypertension.

 

Heart rhythm problems

It’s relatively common for adults with a history of some types of congenital heart disease to develop an abnormal heartbeat. This is often a type of heart rhythm problem called atrial fibrillation or flutter.

With both of these heart rhythm problems, the heart may beat at over 140 beats a minute. (At rest, a normal heart rate is between 60 and 100 beats a minute).

Several treatment options are available for atrial fibrillation, including medications, surgery and an implanted device called a pacemaker.

Read more about treating atrial fibrillation.

 

Heart failure

Heart failure is where the heart cannot pump enough blood around the body to meet the body’s needs. It can occur shortly after a baby with a severe congenital heart defect is born, or when a previously mild and untreated type of congenital heart disease gets worse in later life.

Symptoms of heart failure can include:

• breathlessness when you’re active or sometimes resting


• extreme tiredness and weakness


• swelling in the abdomen (tummy), legs, ankles and feet

Treatments for heart failure can include medication and the use of an implanted device, such as a pacemaker.

Read more about treating heart failure.

 

Blood clots

Having a history of congenital heart disease can also increase the risk of a blood clot forming inside the heart and travelling up to the lungs or the brain. This can lead to a:

• pulmonary embolism – where the blood supply to the lungs is blocked


• stroke – where the blood supply to the brain is blocked

Medications are often used to prevent, dissolve or remove blood clots.

 

Sudden cardiac death

There is a small but significant risk of people with a history of congenital heart disease experiencing a sudden cardiac death (SCD).

It’s estimated that 1 in every 1,000 adults with congenital heart disease will die suddenly in this way every year.

Identifying people at risk of a sudden death is difficult.  Some heart rhythm problems are known to be high risk of this event and a device called an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) will be inserted in such cases.  This device is similar to a pacemaker and can deliver a pulse of electricity when required, which should stop your heart going into spasm.

However many people have a SCD without a rhythm problem being identified, so it remains a concern for most people with congenital heart disease.

 

Categories: atrial fibrillation, blood supply, congenital heart, heart disease, heart failure, heart rhythm, nbsp heart, pulmonary hypertension, rhythm problems

Could Too Much Iron be Doing You Harm?

Everyone needs a sufficient amount of iron in order to maintain good health, as the red blood cells require it to carry oxygen to the cells around the body. It’s also needed in the production of ATP or adenosine triphosphate, the body’s energy source. Excess iron is stored in the bone marrow, liver, spleen and muscles. However, it’s been found that excess consumption of iron supplements could lead to an increase in the amount of iron stored in the body. Everyone will react differently to this, but there are various side effects which are particularly common in women.

 

For example, research has shown that too much iron in the body can increase risk of developing cirrhosis or liver cancer. This is because the liver is one such organ where iron is stored. Too much of this nutrient can put pressure on the liver, which can cause irreversible scarring and can be very painful – this can increase the chances of liver cancer developing. This disease can also occur in women who have a disease known as hematochromatosis, which is caused by iron in foods when consumed in large amounts. Excess quantities of iron can also lead to heart failure or arrhythmia, which is caused by the iron interfering with the electrical conductivity of a person. The heart pumps blood around the entire body, and when iron affects this it can lead to heart failure. Swelling of the legs and problems with your breathing are symptoms of heart failure, which you should be observant of.

 

Some women notice changes to their skin which may be caused by too much iron. When the iron moves from the bloodstream to the tissues in the body, it gets stored in the skin cells. This can affect the quality or tone, making it become grey or bronze in colour. Studies suggest that 90 percent of women who had high levels of iron in their bodies noticed a change in the colour of their skin. The hyper pigmentation can also lead to women being more sensitive to the damaging ultraviolet rays.

 

Those with the previously mentioned condition hemochromatosis could also suffer with problems with the pancreas. 75 percent of people with this problem go on to develop diabetes – in fact, anyone with a family history of these two problems will be more prone to developing them. This is because too much iron in the pancreas affects the insulin production, which increases the amount of blood sugar levels in the body. Excess iron can build up in the joints to lead to damaged tissues, making women the victims of chronic arthritis. This is because the tissue damage renders the bone exposed, leading to immense pain as the bones rub together. And because the large quantities of iron in the blood stops the body repairing the tissues, this condition never repairs itself. It simply increases the inflammation and heightens the amount of pain the individual suffers. Women, more so than men, should be wary of too much iron in the body, as this can lead to damage in the ovaries. Studies suggest that this can manifest itself in the form of irregular menstrual cycles and the loss of ovulation. And in adolescent females, it can also delay puberty. If you’re worried about the amount of iron in your body, you should seek the advice of your GP. They will be able to arrange a simple blood test to ascertain the levels in the body, and adjust them with your diet or medication if necessary.

Categories: Blood, body, excess iron, health conditions, heart failure, iron, lead, liver cancer, studies suggest, Supplements, Women

Do You Suffer From Hypertension?

Do you know what hypertension is? Probably not! Many people don’t really understand or may not have even heard of the problem of hypertension, but it is a serious condition that can make a big difference to your wellbeing. So that certainly makes it something that’s worth understanding. While not a very serious issue within itself, the problem with hypertension is that it can lead to some of the most worrying health concerns for us as we get older. It is known, for example, that hypertension is one of the major causes of coronary artery disease, stroke and kidney disease.

 

It is true that the condition is able to throw up some rather worrying statistics. Let’s take America as our key example. More than 50 million Americans (that’s one in three of the adult population) suffer from hypertension. Even more frightening that than, however, is that the vast majority do not even know that they have it at all. Hypertension could be considered to be something of a silent killer – you don’t know anything about it until it’s too late to remedy the problems that it causes.

 

Hypertension is well known by doctors to be one of the major causes of shortened life spans, and this is especially true for those people living in urban areas. Indeed, over 200,000 people in the US die every year from an illness that is related to them suffering from high blood pressure. Patients with hypertension are at a very high risk factor to have a stroke, or suffer a heart attack or develop congestive heart failure. This is very worrying then, that so many people are in danger from this condition but don’t really know the details of what to do about it.

 

Hypertension is a chronic condition in which the arterial blood pressure, which is the level of blood flowing from the heart of all of the vital organs, get increased due to a number of reasons. This can often be because of your diet – if you eat a lot of foods that are high in saturated fats it can increase the difficult in pumping blood around the body.  It then happens that over a period of time, the resulting stress of having to deal with the problems in the blood begins to weaken the heart muscle and causes the artery walls to harden with build-up of plaque inside. The consequences of chronic hypertension can be gradual and can even involve the damage of vital organs such as the kidneys as well as sudden and often fatal in the form of heart failure and brain haemorrhage.

 

So, how do you deal with hypertension? It’s important to remember that early diagnosis is extremely valuable in the fight against the condition. As with most issues, if you fear that you may be suffering from the condition then it’s well worth going to your doctor and talking through the possibility of having hypertension. There are some certain symptoms that you can watch out for that might make it more likely that you might have hypertension. These include obesity, lack of exercise, lots of salt in your diet, heavy consumption of alcohol or smoking. If this sounds like a reality of your life it could well be worth seeking medical advice on the issue.

 

Overall, it’s a good idea to be mindful of always maintain a healthy diet and getting plenty of regular exercise. Not only will this reduce the likelihood of you suffering from hypertension, but it also can help you avoid other issues too.

Categories: Blood, blood pressure, condition, heart, heart failure, high blood pressure, hypertension, nbsp, nbsp hypertension, vital organs

Could Coenzyme Q10 Supplements Help You to Live Longer?

If you’ve suffered heart failure, taking supplements of a substance called Coenzyme Q10 could make you more likely to live for longer. This is according to a new study, based on 420 people who were taking medicine to treat their heart disease.

When your wellness is affected by heart failure, it means that your heart isn’t pumping blood around your body as well as it should. It is usually caused by damage to the heart, like you would get from a heart attack, and heart failure can affect your wellbeing with breathlessness, tiredness, a phlegmy cough and swollen ankles. Coenzyme Q10 is a substance similar to a vitamin found naturally in the body, which people with heart failure have less of compared to other people.

For the study, participants were divided into two groups. The first group continued with their heart medications as normal and took a placebo pill, while the second group took 100 milligrams of Coenzyme Q10 three times a day on top of their regular medications. After two years, the results of the study revealed that about 14% of people who took Coenzyme Q10 had serious heart problems, compared with 25% who took dummy pills. Roughly 9% of supplement takers died, for any reason, compared with 17% of placebo takers. The study also found that those who took Coenzyme Q10 were less likely than people who took dummy pills to die of heart failure, or need to go to hospital because of their heart failure symptoms.

The design of this study is similar to that used in good-quality studies, but this research hasn’t been published in a journal, so it hasn’t been carefully reviewed by other researchers in the way that journal-published articles are. Therefore, you cannot be sure that these results are reliable, and you should also have certain reservations about Coenzyme Q10. Very little is known about this substance, especially with regard to whether if it is better than, or as safe as, existing heart treatments. Coenzyme Q10 is available to buy as a health supplement, but there is not enough evidence from this study alone to suggest it’s a good idea to start taking it if you have heart failure. Remember, you should always tell your doctor if you are thinking of taking any supplements.

Categories: Coenzyme Q10, heart failure, Research

Give Yourself 2 Years Before Having Another Baby

In an interview in Abujah, gynaecologist Dr. Fred Achem informed women of child-bearing age to give themselves a two-year pause before having another child.

This is due to the low blood levels that occur during childbirth, which are irregular and unstable, leading to effects such as anaemia, heart failure, fatigue, leg swelling and more. Following a heavy loss of blood, women need a long period of time to recover – more than you may think. Further still, another pregnancy so soon encourages the risk of miscarriage.

According to Codewit, during the interview, Dr. Achem said, “Our women must not continue to get pregnant every year. They have to recover from one pregnancy, rebuild their blood system up and that takes a minimum of two years. Once the blood level starts coming down, it manifests in her strength to carry the baby, it manifests in the size of the baby. And if the anaemia is very deficient, the baby may even succumb in her womb as a result of anaemia.”

One of the methods of avoiding anaemia is for expecting mothers (and those of child-bearing age in general) to take doses of iron and folic acid tablets, which then builds up the blood system. Nutrition is also a giant leap into healthy pregnancy by moderating weight and calorie intake.

“It is very important that women consider their own nutrition and stay on top of good nutrition all through pregnancies, moderate weight gain is very important.”

“It is not so much of what they eat but the quality of what they eat, and to address such things, it is better to avoid all those fried fruits which bring more calories to the system.”

Gynaecologists suggest a heavy mixture of good protein and vegetables to stave off anaemia and the awkward jostle of bowel movements.

Give Yourself 2 Years Before Having Another Baby

Categories: anaemia, childbirth, Fatigue, gynaecology, heart failure, pregnancy, Pregnant, swollen legs

Heart Failure Could Be Tackled By Calcium Sponge

A team of researchers at the University of Minnesota’s Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology and the Lillehei Heart Institute have been able to use molecular genetic engineering to optimise heart performance in models of diastolic heart failure. They did this by creating a protein that can aid in high-speed relaxation similar to fast twitching muscles.

Inside the cells of the heart, calcium plays a very important role in controlling and regulating normal heart pump function. However, if you suffer from diastolic failure the calcium signalling process is slowed; calcium levels in your body rise to the peak needed for the squeezing action of the heart but don’t then drop quickly enough for an efficient relaxation period. This is known as diastolic heart failure.

The university researchers were able to pinpoint a specific protein, called parvalbumin – which helps in very fast relaxation of fast twitching muscles in nature. They were able to optimise it to become a calcium sponge for muscles of the heart. As a result, the optimised protein, ParvE101Q, soaks up excess calcium, which then allows the heart to relax efficiently after the contraction.

This is a very positive step forward in the battle against diastolic heart failure. The authors of the research advised that the next step will be determining the best possible delivery mechanism for the protein. If this goes well it should allow the discovery to be used in clinics and be a very useful way to fight the condition.

Heart failure is a common killer of both men and women across the country and the rate of heart failure is increasing as the population of the UK ages. This is a very worrying trend, especially as you are more likely to have a second heart attack if you survive the first.

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Heart Failure Could Be Tackled By Calcium Sponge

Categories: calcium, heart failure, heart health