Congenital Heart Defects: The Most Common Birth Defect
When a person is born with a congenital heart defect, they are actually born with a problem with the structure of their heart. It is only present at birth, and is the most common type of birth defect that a baby can be born with. During development inside the womb, structural defects can occur. These defects can involve the walls of the heart, the valves of the heart, as well as the arteries near the heart. This is something serious, because it can disrupt the flow of blood through the heart. The blood flow can slow down, be blocked completely, and even go in the wrong direction or to the wrong place.
There is treatment that can be given for babies with this type of heart defect. Treatment can consist of medicine, surgery and other medical procedures. Sometimes heart transplants are necessary for congenital heart issues. The treatment all depends on several factors that have to do with the baby. They look at the severity of the condition, as well as the child’s age, and size. Many times children that are born with this type of defect, end up growing to adulthood and still living a healthy and productive life.
Posted on July 30th, 2011 by admin
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