...Introduction Congenital heart defects affect millions of newborns every year. According to recent research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, congenital heart defects “affect nearly 1% of―or about 40,000―births per year in the United States” (Congenital Heart Defects (CHDs)). Because these conditions are congenital, infants are present with these defects at birth. While many advancements in technology have improved the lifespan for infants with congenital heart disease, this group of cardiovascular abnormalities are still a “leading cause of birth defect-associated infant illness and death” (Congenital Heart Defects (CHDs)). Therefore, early diagnosis of congenital heart defects is imperative to early intervention. Identification...
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...Your heart is one of your body’s most important organs. The heart is a muscle made up of four chambers. The chambers are divided into two halves each containing on chamber, one is called an Atrium and one is called the Ventricle. The Atrium puts blood in the heart and the Ventricle pumps blood out of the heart. Because Heart Disease can be very deadly people should know the symptoms and types in order to prevent further cases. Some types of heart diseases include Congenital, Heart Failure, Arrhythmia, Atherosclerosis and Cardiomegaly. Congenital Heart Disease is not given, but appears at birth. Congenital Heart Disease has problems with the heart valves. The heart valves will close which stops blood from passing through. This also causes...
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...that a child has a congenital heart defect can be devastating news to a parent. Early detections and interventions are now in place to properly treat the children with some congenital defect. Just like any other disease, proper treatment and management should be taken into consideration to avoid further complications. When untreated, congenital heart defect would lead to another disease called Eisenmenger Syndrome. Eisenmenger Syndrome is a disease that has so many complications if left untreated. Is Eisenmenger Syndrome treatable or not? During the early years in history, treatment for patients with Eisenmenger Syndrome (ES) was limited. Beghetti & Galie (2009) describe ES as the most advanced form of pulmonary hypertension (PAH) that is associated with congenital heart disease. ES is a disease that is enormously devastating...
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... Nova Southeastern University Newborn Screening for Congenital Heart Disease I represent the American Heart Association and this organization support Bill HB 81. The American Heart Association has been dedicated to the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases of all age groups. Furthermore, our mission and goal is to" build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular disease, this is the single purpose that drives all we do and the need for our work is beyond question"(American Heart Association, n.d). Therefore, it is evident that this organization firmly support early screening, treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Congenital heart disease is the most common birth defect among newborns, affecting eight out of every one thousand newborn babies(Ewer et. al, 2011). It is also the leading cause of death among newborns within the first year of life. Early detection of congenital heart disease is crucial to newborn health and prevention of major problems later in child's life. Additionally, if detected early, congenital heart defects can be treated with surgical interventions or medication, depending on the severity. Pulse oximetry, a simple non invasive test and will be implemented as a screening tool for congenital heart disease(Kemper et. al, 2011). Bill HB 81 - Newborn Screening for Critical Congenital Heart Disease was sponsored by Cary Pigman(Republican, District 55) and Karen Caster Dentel(Democrat,...
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...Congenital Abnormalities Every year, thousands of infants and new born babies’ lives are taken away; both from them and their parents. Imagine the pain a family encounters after carrying a child for nine months and once the water breaks, being informed that there is a congenital defect with the new born child. The term alone would horrify a mother without being aware of the definition or even cause of the problem the child has encountered. A congenital defect is a birth defect that can be defined as problems that occur while a fetus is developing in the womb. Congenital defects can affect the way the body looks or functions and range from mild to severe. Some defects such as cleft lip or palate can be easily and safely treated, however, defects such as Down syndrome, heart or brain defects, and things along those lines may need life-long treatment to manage. The most severe congenital defects prove fatal and lead to infant death. In 2005, 5,571 infants died as a result of congenital defects. Birth defects are generally grouped into one of three major categories, structural or metabolic, congenital infections, or “other.” Being that this is such a broad break down of categories, it is made evident that not only is it unclear whether a child is born with an abnormality until various tests are done to come to the conclusion that there may be something wrong with a child. Structural or metabolic abnormalities include heart defects and neural defects where some part of the body...
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...1. Valvular Heart Disease Valvular heart disease is characterized by damage to or a defect in one of the four heart valves: the mitral, aortic, tricuspid or pulmonary. These conditions occur largely as a result of ageing. Most people are in their late 50s when diagnosed, and more than one in ten people over 75 have it. According to Professor Ben Bridgewater, consultant cardiac surgeon at University Hospital of South Manchester, ‘If the disease is picked up early, the outcomes from surgery are very good. Life expectancy goes back to match that of healthy people the same age. 2. The normal functions that would be affected by the disease. Normally functioning valves ensure that blood flows with proper force in the proper direction at the proper time. In valvular heart disease, the valves become too narrow and hardened to open fully, or are unable to close completely. Many of the symptoms are similar to those associated with congestive heart failure, such as shortness of breath and wheezing after limited physical exertion and swelling of the feet, ankles, hands or abdomen. Other symptoms include: * Palpitations, chest pain (may be mild). * Fatigue. * Dizziness or fainting (with aortic stenosis). * Fever (with bacterial endocarditis). * Rapid weight gain. 3. Changes in function caused by the disease There are many different types of valve disease; some types can be present at birth (congenital), while others may be acquired later in life. Congenital...
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...chambers of your heart (atria) (Mayo, 2018). This heart condition is present at birth, which makes it congenital. Small defects can sometimes never really cause a problem, and may be found by accident. If an atrial septal defect is small, it is possible that it can close on its own during infancy or during childhood. If an atrial septal defect is large and well-established, it can cause damage to the heart and lungs. An adult who has had an undetected atrial septal defect for decades may have a shortened life span from heart failure or high blood pressure that affects the arteries in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension) (Mayo, 2018). In this paper, I will discuss the etiology, symptoms, clinical findings, echocardiography findings, catheterization uses, and outcomes of surgery for atrial septal defects. An ASD is a true deficiency that is located in the interatrial septum, that allows blood to be able to flow between both of the atria. There are several forms of ASD. The first is...
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...Requiring Newborn Screening of Critical Congenital Heart Disease Date With the numerous technological advances that have occurred in today’s health care system, one would think newborn screening would be required in Maryland for the most common birth defect in the United States, critical congenital heart disease (CCHD), but only just this year has the state considered the requirement (Department of Legislative Services, Office of Information Systems [DLSOIS], 2011). Critical congenital heart disease, a disorder in which an infant’s heart or blood vessels near the heart develop abnormally before birth, affects approximately 8 out of every 1,000 infants each year in the US, amounting to around 36,000 infants (DLSOIS, 2011). CCHD is the leading cause of death among infants within the first year of life, amounting to nearly 40% of deaths, often due to the fact that a large number of infants with this disease go undetected (Martin, Bradshaw, & Wright, n.d.). Although some babies are diagnosed with congenital heart disease shortly before or after birth, many diagnoses are not made until days, weeks, or months later; sometimes not at all. Many benefits are associated with implementing CCHD screening, many treatment options are available for those diagnosed with CCHD, and a bill is being proposed to the State of Maryland’s General Assembly about including this screening in the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Newborn Screening Program (DLSOIS, 2011). The benefits...
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...Congenital anomalies can be defined as structural or functional anomalies, including metabolic disorders, which are present at the time of birth. Congenital anomalies are important causes of childhood death, chronic illness, and disability in many countries. Congenital anomalies are also known as birth defects, congenital disorders or congenital malformations.1 WHO estimated that congenital anomalies were responsible for 2.7 million neonatal deaths in 193 countries in 2010. Congenital anomalies affect an estimated 1 in 33 infants and result in approximately 3.2 million birth defect-related disabilities every year. An estimated 270000 newborns die during the first 28 days of life every year from congenital anomalies. The most common severe congenital anomalies are heart defects, neural tube defects and Down syndrome.1 Worldwide incidence of congenital disorder is estimated at 3-7%, but actual numbers vary widely between countries. The people belong to different religions and have varied cultural practices including exposure during antenatal period to various environmental factors like medicaments and desire for a particular sex.2...
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...medical research, I now realize it could have been indicative lack of oxygen due to my undiagnosed heart condition. There were many signs during my youth that were indicative of my heart condition that could have been treated differently if the doctors had looked into it. I was always small in stature, I have several eye and vascular issues that were affected by the lack of oxygen, I always worked extra hard within athletics and was very slow to improve. My doctors and I now believe all of these issues could have been much less significant should my Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) have been discovered and repaired early in my life. A simple pulse oximetry test at my birth may have picked up my condition and proper treatment delivered but back in 1999 when I was born that test was not standard procedure after birth at the hospital in which I was born. Similar stories to mine are more common than...
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...definition, epidemiology, burden of disease and interventions for prevention and care, as well as indications of how these interventions might be integrated into existing health services. An earlier version of this report was considered by the Executive Board at its 126th session,1 following which the Board adopted resolution EB126.R6. DEFINITION 2. The International statistical classification of diseases and related health problems, tenth revision (ICD-10), includes birth defects in Chapter XVII: Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities. Birth defects like inborn errors of metabolism and blood disorders of prenatal origin appear in other chapters. Birth defects can be defined as structural or functional abnormalities, including metabolic disorders, which are present from birth. The term congenital disorder is considered to have the same definition; the two terms are used interchangeably.2 The eleventh revision of the classification provides an opportunity for a review of the current entry. 3. Irrespective of definition, birth defects can cause spontaneous abortions and stillbirths and are a significant but underrecognized cause of mortality and disability among infants and children under five years of age. They can be life-threatening, result in long-term disability, and negatively affect individuals, families, health-care systems and societies. BIRTH DEFECTS AND GLOBAL NEWBORN AND CHILD MORTALITY 4. Congenital disorders are a common condition. WHO...
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...As we all know the heart is the most important organ of the body. The heart does many amazing things through its four chambers and two ventricles. The most important functions the heart does is pumping blood and oxygen through our body. Those two functions are what keeps us alive and breathing. A person's most important goal should be to remain healthy in order to avoid any type of health issues. However, most people don't really realize the health issues that can occur in your heart when your health is not up to par. One of the most common health issues regarding the heart is congestive heart failure. This health issue occurs when the right ventricle has difficulty pumping blood to your lungs. When a ventricle has difficulty pumping, the blood backs up in your blood vessels causing fluid retention in lower extremities, abdomen, lungs, and kidneys. It is possible to have left-sided and right-sided congestive heart failure at the same time. CHF can be deadly if the main cause of the disease is not treated. Symptoms of congestive heart failure can be excess urination at night, chest pains, shortness of breath, swollen feet or legs, bloating, palpitations, Persistent coughing, or fatigue....
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...Cardiovascular Disease Sandra Stubbs HCA/240 June 1, 2012 Monique Williams Cardiovascular Disease Cardio Vascular Disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States. Cardiovascular disease pertains to several conditions that affect the functions of the heart and the structures within the heart. From 1998 to 2008, the rate of death attributable to CVD declined 30.6%. Mortality data for 2008 show that CVD (I00 –I99; Q20–Q28) accounted for 32.8% (811 940) of all 2 471 984 deaths in 2008, or 1 of every 3 deaths in the United States (American Heart Association, 2012). Conditions that are classified under this disease include arterial sclerosis, arrhythmia, heart failure, congenital heart disease, heart valve disease, cardiomyopathy, aorta disease, vascular disease, and pericardial disease. Usually by the time that the heart problem is detected, the underlying problem is usually extremely advanced having progressed because of going undetected for years. Symptoms of cardiovascular disease are different, depending on the type of cardiovascular disease a person suffers from. Arrhythmias are a little easier to pinpoint symptoms. A person may feel a flutter like feeling when the heart is beating or feel the heart skipping beats. Symptoms of heart failure can affect many parts of the body. Some symptoms are edema in the legs or feet, angina, loss of appetite, weight loss, weight gain, fatigue, and shortness...
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...Chronic diseases are diseases or conditions that persist or progress over a long time. Chronic diseases develop slowly. Chronic illnesses are prolonged, do not resolve spontaneously, and are rarely cured completely. There are many different chronic diseases, but the two biggest killers are cardiovascular disease and cancer, by far the leading causes of death in the United States as well as the rest of the world. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) comprises a group of diseases that includes two major categories: diseases of the heart and cerebrovascular disease (primarily stroke). Cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cellular growth and reproduction. Cancer can occur in any part of the body, but we’ll discuss a few that are of the greatest importance to women’s health: breast cancer, lung cancer, cancers of the reproductive system, and a few others. More lives are claimed by CVD than by the next five leading causes of death combined. Cardiovascular deaths usually occur in later years when women are beset with a variety of comorbid conditions, such as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, osteoporosis, and diabetes. The two major forms of CVD are heart disease and stroke; of these, coronary heart disease is the major killer. Strokes, however, also cause many deaths, and they disproportionately affect women—6 of 10 people who die from strokes are women. Cardiovascular disease imposes a heavy burden on the medical care system in the United States, particularly on...
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...1. Congenital rubella: a) Has an incubation period of 7-10 days. b) May be complicated by polyarthralgia. c) Rarely causes deafness. d) Is an indication for termination if it occurs in the first two months of pregnancy. e) May cause prolonged jaundice. 2. Recognised causes of delayed bone age include: a) Hypopiturtarism b) Primary hypothyroidism c) Congenital adrenal hypoplasia d) Prolonged corticosteroid therapy e) Tuberculosis 3. Kwashiorkor: a) Hypothermia is a recognized complication T b) Edema is mainly due to protein losing enteropathy. T c) Measles is a recognized precipitant F d) The incidence is highest in the first two month of life F e) The birth of a second child to the mother may be a contributory factor F 4. At the age of eight months a baby can be expected to: a) Roll over from front to back T b) Sit up with a straight back T c) Pick a small bead between thumb and finger T d) Say up to five word clearly F e) Feed himself with a spoon F 5. if a child in the ward's develops measles, the following action are appropriate a) Close the wards to all admissions for one week F b) Actively immunized all the other patients against measles T c) Give gamma globulin to all patients who have not been immunized or had measles T d) Forbid visiting by the parents until the rash has gone F e) Give prophylactic antibiotics to all contacts at home T 6. Convulsion in the first week of life is characteristic of a) Hypocalcaemia T b) Post maturity...
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