Posts Tagged ‘Congenital Heart Disease’

Arguable the heart is the most important organ in the human body. Without the heart life would not be possible, it is responsible for getting neturients and oxygen throught the body by way of the circulatory system. Modern medicine has advanced greatly within the last 30 years and almost all heart diseases can be treated successfully if detected in time.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a malformation of the large blood vessel near the heart. Congenital heart disease is one of the most common forms of major birth defects in newborns, affecting approximately 8 percent of infants and is normally diagnosed within one week from birth.

Prior to birth the fetus is not effected by this birth defect. The blood circulates differently prior to birth and the fetus derives oxygen and nutrients from the mother through the placenta. The fetal circulation has important communications between the upper heart chambers and the great blood vessels near the heart. Most types of congenital heart disease are well tolerated during fetal life and only present a problem after birth.

This disease can have different causes such as:

Environmental factors such as chemicals or drugs are sometimes to blame. If the mother develops measles or rubella, or consumes alcohol during pregnancy, the disease can impair the development of the fetus heart or other organs.

About 50 percent of children with Down’s syndrome also have CHD. Down’s Syndrome is caused by the presence of a single extra chromosome when the sperm cell and ovum join together. The general scientific option is that the extra chromosome produces extra enzymes in excessive quantity. It is believed that the excessive enzymes somehow cause them to interfere with each other and that the developing cells are inefficiently nourished and the bloodstream becomes clogged with the unused nutrients. As a result the organs and tissues do not mature properly. At birth the heart, lungs and brain are malformed and function poorly.

Common Vitamins and over the counter products can help with Heart Disease such as Boron, Vitamin E, Ginkgo, Vitamin B, Amino Acid, Oat Bran , and Vitamin C.

Boron is known as the calcium helper and assists calcium absorption and utilization in the body.

Vitamin E supplies Oxygen to the heart and the other muscles in the body. Accelerates wound healing and aids in the functioning of the immune system.

Ginkgo Plus supplies a comprehensive range of important nutrients needed for the proper functioning of the vascular system and for improving blood circulation to the brain.

Vitamin B taken together as a team perform vital biological processes including aiding in the healing process for congestive heart failure and reduces fluid retention. It is required for the development of red blood cells.

Amino Acid helps regulate growth, digestion and maintaining the body’s immune system.

Oat Bran helps to regulate blood glucose levels, aids in lowering cholesterol, and helps in the removal of toxins.

Vitamin C is nature’s protective nutrient, essential for defending the body against pollution and infection and enhances the bodies’ immune system. Take 1,000 to 5,000 mg daily.

If you are at risk from Congenital Heart Disease then find a good health care professional prior to starting any type of home treatment.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.

This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.



By: David Cowley

About the Author:

David Cowley has created numerous articles on heart disease. He has also created a Web Site dedicated to heart disease and how to treat them. Click on Heart Treatment



Heart disease, also known as cardiovascular disease, includes a number of conditions affecting the heart: congestive heart failure, congenital heart disease, and heart attack, among others. If you don’t know the symptoms, you could be at risk and not even know it. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the U.S. Keys to prevention include quitting smoking, improving cholesterol, controlling high blood pressure, maintaining a healthy weight, and exercising.

The heart consists of a muscle (myocardium) that pumps blood, arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle, and valves to ensure that the blood is pumped in the correct direction. At any point in the pumping process, or in any part of the heart, something can go awry. The diseases and conditions affecting the heart are collectively known as heart disease.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of disability. Almost 700,000 people die of heart disease in the U.S. each year. That is about 29% of all U.S. deaths. Heart disease is a term that includes several more specific heart conditions. The most common heart disease in the United States is coronary heart disease, which can lead to heart attack.

Chest pain (angina pectoris) occurs, for instance, when the oxygen demand of the heart muscle exceeds the oxygen supply because of that narrowing in the coronary arteries. When the imbalance of oxygen supply lasts for more then a few minutes, heart muscle can begin to die, causing a heart attack (myocardial infarction). This may occur without symptoms (silent heart attack), especially in people with diabetes.

Symptoms of heart disease varies according to the type of heart disease. Unfortunately, some heart diseases cause no symptoms early in its course. When symptoms occur, they vary from person to person. Symptoms may may include chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness and fatigue, palpitations (the sensation of the heart beating in the chest), lightheadedness, and fainting, or feeling about to faint.

A heart attack is an injury to the heart muscle caused by a loss of blood supply. The medical term for heart attack is “myocardial infarction,” often abbreviated MI. A heart attack usually occurs when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood through a coronary artery — a blood vessel that feeds blood to a part of the heart muscle. Interrupted blood flow to your heart can damage or destroy a part of the heart muscle.

After age 50, your health care provider will recommend a screening colonoscopy. This test involves giving you IV sedation to make you sleepy, then passing a very small, flexible scope into your lower intestine (the colon) via your rectum. It can be a bit uncomfortable, but not painful, and the outcome is well worth this discomfort. This is because the provider can directly visualize any colon polyps that are present and remove them. Colon polyps are usually a type called an “adenoma,” which can develop into a cancer.

High blood pressure increases the heart’s workload, causing the heart to enlarge and weaken over time. When high blood pressure exists with obesity, smoking, physical inactivity, high blood cholesterol levels or diabetes, the risk of heart attack increases greatly. Although the cause of most high blood pressure is unknown, it can be controlled.

The risk of coronary heart disease can be reduced by taking steps to prevent and control those adverse factors that put people at greater risk for heart disease and heart attack. Additionally, knowing the signs and symptoms of heart attack, calling 911 right away, and getting to a hospital are crucial to the most positive outcomes after having a heart attack. People who have had a heart attack can also work to reduce their risk of future events.



By: peterhutch

About the Author:



Heart disease is a very generic term that specifically refers to a diseased condition of the heart like heart failure, congenital heart disease, coronary heart disease, heart infections, dysfunctioning of the heart valves and heart arrhythmias. It is estimated that in a total population of a country, one in four people are affected with some kind of heart disease. Heart disease is the number one killer disease in the USA.

Whatever the type of Heart Disease, the primary risk factors for developing heart disease are smoking, hypertension, sedentary lifestyle, diabetes, genetic predisposition, menopause, obesity and hereditary. High levels of inflammation related substances, amino acids and homocysteine also pose an increased risk to develop a heart attack. This is due to these substances containing fibrinogen and C-reactive protein that facilitate increased chances of developing heart disorders.

The different types of heart disease are followed by different symptoms, though there are some common symptoms for a number of heart problems. These symptoms vary dependant on the type and severity of the heart disease. It is very crucial to recognize these symptoms and get timely help from the doctors to avoid the condition becoming too severe or frequent. Some of the common symptoms of heart disease are shortness of breath, palpitations, feeling of weakness or dizziness, increased rate of heartbeats, sweating, nausea, irregular heartbeats, heartburn, etc. However, some people face heart attacks without showing any symptoms. Such type of heart attack is referred as a “Silent MI”. It may occur among all people; however it is more frequent in diabetic patients.

Heart Disease Prevention:

We can follow some steps in order to lower the risk of heart attacks and heart diseases. An overall healthy diet is the best way to lower the risks of heart disease. You should include lots of fruits and vegetables in your diet, cut down the amounts of salt, cholesterol and saturated fats to lower these risks. Exercise regularly for at least half an hour by engaging yourself in some sort of moderate level of physical activities. More importantly avoiding tobacco and alcohol is critical. These substances increase the chances of heart attack, blood pressure, and stroke.

As we all are aware of the fact that “Prevention is better than Cure”, it is better to follow the preventive measures before. Always remember whatever actions you do today; delay, prevent, minimize or worsen the effects of heart disease. The basic idea is to have control over the risk factors leading to serious heart disease. However, all the risk factors cannot be controlled like family history, etc., but you can definitely control your life style and habits like consumption of substances that are responsible for causing a heart attack.



By: Miller Thompson

About the Author:

Miller Thompson is a well known dietitian, and health advisor, who frequently writes aboutobesity amongst people, its preventive measures,Miller also provides Health tips for Adults & Teens who have obesity.



There are numerous diseases that affect the heart. Among the most common are coronary heart disease, heart failure, congenital heart disease, hypertension, heart valve problems, heart arrhythmias and heart infections. These all fall under the term “heart disease.”

Heart disease occurs for a variety of reasons, including genetics, sedentary lifestyles, smoking, diabetes, clogged arteries and hypertension. Fortunately, there are a number of lifestyle behaviors you can adopt to help you avoid the pitfalls of heart disease. The two most important elements are eating a heart-healthy diet and getting regular exercise.

The cornerstone to a heart-healthy diet is replacing foods high in saturated fats with healthier alternatives such as fruits, vegetables, low-fat milk and dairy products, poultry and fish. Eating healthier alternatives can help to lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol level and raise your HDL (good) cholesterol level. Both are significant in being heart-healthy.

Regular physical activity also helps to keep your good cholesterol higher and your bad cholesterol lower. Even a small amount of daily exercise can make a big difference to your heart.

Smoking is very damaging to the heart, and maintaining a healthy weight and a reasonable level of alcohol consumption are very important as well.

Heart disease may offer no symptoms during the early stages. Often the first symptom is a pain or discomfort in the chest (called angina pectoris), which can be brought on by physical exertion and relieved by rest. Any sort of chest pain calls for medical attention right away.

If you are diagnosed with heart disease, lowering your cholesterol level and adding adequate levels of exercise to your daily routine, combined with medication your doctor will prescribe, can help you live a long and healthy life. The key to success is understanding that your daily activities control the progress of the disease, and therefore making heart-healthy choices is vital.

So, what steps can you take to make it easier to identify and manage heart disease? Keep a journal of any symptom that you may encounter. For instance, when you measure your cholesterol levels, make a note in a journal. Or when you eat certain foods or participate in certain activities, make a note of the results — how do you feel? Then on a regular basis keep track of any changes in these symptoms.

Once a heart-healthy diet, daily exercise regimen, and course of treatment has been prescribed for you, keep another journal in which you describe the results. Have the symptoms improved? Are they worse?

If you are taking medication for your heart, keep a record of what you take and when. Is it helping the symptoms? Are there any side effects? Keep track of when side effects occur and how severe they are. Having this information handy will help your doctor prescribe the treatment that best addresses your overall health.

Setting up journals like the ones described here is easy to do. You can use a paper worksheet, a computer word processing program, or even a spreadsheet program like Excel.

You owe it to yourself to take an active role in managing your own health. Heart disease can be deadly. However with proper management, it can be controlled and in many cases even reversed. You need to use every tool at your disposal to make sure you get the best health care possible.



By: Jason Jantzi

About the Author:

Jason Jantzi writes for www.Health-Kit.com and is a specialist in researching treatments for pain and discomfort. Download a free Heart Disease Health Kit from http://www.health-kit.com/heart/heart-disease/ and take control of the symptoms of heart disease today.