4 Heart Diseases in Children Every Parent Should Know
Learn about heart disease in children, from heart murmurs and arrhythmia to atherosclerosis and congenital defects, plus early signs to watch.
Heart disease can affect children, not just adults. Early signs of heart disease in children include shortness of breath, pale skin and a reduced appetite. That is why parents need to monitor their child's heart health. Here are some diseases that affect children's hearts.
4 Heart Diseases in Children to Watch For
- Heart Murmur
A heart murmur is an abnormal sound, like a soft whoosh, that can be heard clearly through a stethoscope. Besides the whooshing sound, this condition also makes the heart beat fast and hard. It happens because the heart valves do not close completely, so blood does not flow from the heart into the blood vessels properly.
- Arrhythmia
Arrhythmia is a rhythm disorder in which a child's heart beats too fast or too slow. In general, four types of arrhythmia can occur in children: supraventricular arrhythmia, ventricular arrhythmia, bradycardia and premature heartbeat.
Supraventricular arrhythmia is a problem in the atria (the upper chambers of the heart), while ventricular arrhythmia occurs in the lower chambers. Although the two conditions start in different parts of the heart, both make the heart beat fast.
Next is bradycardia, a type of arrhythmia that causes a very weak heartbeat. The last type of arrhythmia is premature heartbeat. This condition is marked by a pause in the heart's rhythm, followed by a faster or harder beat.
- Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is a condition in which the arteries are injured or damaged by a blockage caused by a buildup of cholesterol plaque and fat. Children who are overweight or obese are very prone to this disease. That is why parents must teach healthy, regular eating habits.
- Congenital Heart Disease
Congenital heart disease is an abnormal condition of the heart that develops before birth (while the baby is still in the womb). It is the most common type of heart disease present from birth. This birth defect is caused by a blockage in a heart valve and holes in the wall of the heart, which cause a leaking heart.
Diseases that can affect a child's heart health are something parents need to know about. Congenital heart disease generally does not require medical treatment, but if the condition is serious, you should seek medical help right away. Treatment ranges from medication to a heart transplant.
The explanation above shows that many diseases can affect your child's heart. As a parent, you are better off confirming your child's heart condition early at the Heartology clinic, because conditions such as heart murmur, arrhythmia, atherosclerosis and congenital heart disease need a diagnosis from a specialist doctor.
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