Heart defects

Heart defects‏‎, also known as Congenital heart defects, are problems with the heart's structure that are present at birth. These defects can involve the interior walls of the heart, the valves inside the heart, and the arteries and veins that carry blood to the heart or the body.

Types of Heart Defects

There are many types of heart defects, including:

• Atrial Septal Defect (ASD): A hole in the wall between the two upper chambers of the heart.
• Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD): A hole in the wall between the two lower chambers of the heart.
• Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA): A condition where the ductus arteriosus, an artery in the heart, doesn't close.
• Tetralogy of Fallot: A condition characterized by four related heart defects.
• Transposition of the Great Arteries: A condition where the two main arteries leaving the heart are reversed.
• Coarctation of the Aorta: A narrowing of the large blood vessel that leads from the heart.

Causes of Heart Defects

The exact cause of most heart defects is unknown, but they are thought to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Some heart defects are associated with genetic conditions such as Down Syndrome.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Heart defects can often be detected before birth, during a pregnancy ultrasound. After birth, heart defects may be diagnosed through a physical exam and special heart tests such as an Echocardiogram.

Treatment for heart defects depends on the type and severity of the defect. Some mild heart defects do not require any treatment. Others can be treated with medications, procedures using catheterization, or surgery.

See Also

• Cardiology
• Pediatric Cardiology
• Cardiac Surgery