Understanding Congenital Heart Disease: Types, Causes, and Symptoms

Congenital heart disease (CHD), also known as Congenital heart failure, refers to problems with the heart’s structure present at birth. These issues can affect how blood flows through the heart and to the rest of the body. The illness has a mild to severe spectrum. While some types of CHD may not show any symptoms at all, others may be fatal and necessitate prompt medical intervention.

In CHD, there may be a hole in the heart’s wall, issues with the blood vessels, or problems with the heart valves, which regulate blood flow. These defects may disrupt normal blood circulation, either by slowing it down, sending it in the wrong direction, or making it difficult for the heart to pump blood effectively. While some individuals are diagnosed with CHD shortly after birth, others may not discover it until later in childhood or adulthood.

Congenital heart disease types

Congenital cardiac disease comes in two primary forms:

A. Cyanotic CHD: This type lowers oxygen levels in the blood, making the skin, lips, or nails appear bluish (called cyanosis). Babies with this type usually need surgery early on. Some common examples are:

1. Left heart problems: Blood flow from the heart to the body is reduced, as seen in conditions like hypoplastic left heart syndrome.
2. Right heart problems: Blood flow from the heart to the lungs is reduced, as seen in the tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary atresia.
3. Mixing problems: Blood from the lungs and the body mix abnormally, like in the transposition of the great arteries.

B. Acyanotic CHD: In this type, blood oxygen levels are normal, but the heart still doesn’t pump blood correctly. Examples include:

1. Holes in the heart: Openings in the heart’s walls, like atrial septal defects or ventricular septal defects, affect normal blood flow.
2. Aorta problems: The aorta (the large artery that carries blood from the heart to the body) may be too narrow, or the valve may not open properly.
3. Pulmonary artery problems: If the artery taking blood to the lungs is too narrow, it’s called pulmonary artery stenosis.

Causes of Congenital Heart Disease

Congenital heart disease occurs when the heart doesn’t form properly during foetal development. Nonetheless, a few things could make a baby more likely to have heart issues before birth:

1. Genetics: Heart defects can run in families and may be passed down from parents. Conditions like Down syndrome are often linked to congenital heart issues.
2. German Measles (Rubella): Contracting rubella during pregnancy can affect how the baby’s heart develops. Women can take a blood test before pregnancy to check immunity and receive a vaccine if needed.
3. Diabetes: Type 1 or type 2 diabetic women may have an increased chance of giving birth to a child who has heart issues. Gestational diabetes, however, usually does not increase this risk.
4. Medications: Some medications taken during pregnancy, such as lithium or isotretinoin, may contribute to heart defects.
5. Alcohol: Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can increase the risk of heart defects in the baby.
6. Smoking: Smoking while pregnant also raises the risk of congenital heart defects. Quitting smoking is strongly recommended.

Congenital Heart Disease Symptoms 

In some cases, congenital heart disease symptoms may not show symptoms until later in life, or symptoms may return even after treatment. Common symptoms in adults include:

1. Irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias).
2. Blue or grey skin, lips, or nails due to low oxygen levels. These colour changes may be more noticeable or harder to detect depending on skin tone.
3. Difficulty in breathing during an activity or while relaxing
4. Fatigue or becoming unusually tired quickly during physical activities.
5. Swelling (oedema) is caused by fluid buildup in the body’s tissues.

It is important to seek emergency medical attention for unexplained chest pain or severe shortness of breath. Regular health checkups are also recommended for those with congenital heart disease.

Congenital Heart Disease Diagnosis 

Congenital heart disease (CHD) can sometimes be detected before birth. Between the 18th and 22nd week of pregnancy, a healthcare provider may conduct a foetal echocardiogram, an ultrasound examination that provides detailed images of the baby’s heart to identify any potential abnormalities.

After birth, all newborns are subjected to routine screening for cardiac abnormalities. A pulse oximeter is used to measure the baby’s blood oxygen levels by clipping the device to their hands or feet. If oxygen levels are low, further tests will be conducted to confirm a heart defect.

There are several tests for diagnosing congenital heart disease that can help diagnose CHD in newborns, children, or adults:

1. Physical Exam
2. Chest X-ray
3. Electrocardiogram (ECG)
4. Echocardiogram
5. Heart Catheterisation
6. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

These tests are essential for detecting and confirming congenital heart disease at various stages of life.

Consult with a doctor and book a heart test with Dr Lal PathLabs today!

FAQs 

1. What are the types of congenital heart disease?

Cyanotic CHD and Acyanotic CHD are the two main types of congenital heart disease.

2. What causes congenital heart disease?

The exact cause of CHD is often unknown, but factors that increase the risk include genetic conditions, maternal diabetes, rubella during pregnancy, certain medications, alcohol, and smoking during pregnancy.