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Showing posts from April, 2020

Understanding Congenital Heart Disease: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

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Congenital heart defects refer to defects in the heart that children are born with. These are one of the most common congenital defects globally. In India too, 200,000+ children are born with a congenital heart defect (CHD). These are the numbers of the cases that are recorded – there maybe many more which go undiagnosed and hence untreated. Only 25 per cent of the children diagnosed with a congenital heart defect are able to get the required treatment. A lack of awareness and access to resources are the biggest challenges in children getting timely treatment. Organisations like Genesis Foundation, a congenital heart foundation India has been taking steps to both build awareness and provide financial treatment to those who cannot afford the cost of treatment. The treatment for CHD is expensive and families that do not earn enough to meet their daily needs have to depend on funds they receive as a congenital heart disease donation to support the treatment. Symptoms of Congenital Heart

How our little help can give someone a chance to live

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A congenital heart defect is a common birth defect that affects the structure and functioning of the heart. Some congenital heart defects in children are simple (a hole in the heart) and don't need treatment, whereas others are complex malformations that may require several surgeries performed over a period of several years. All these problems can affect the breathing, feeding, and weight of the child. An infant with CHD may have the following symptoms:  ● Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) ● Cyanosis- A bluish tint to the lips, fingernails, and skin ● Shortness of breath ● Tiring quickly upon exertion ● Poor weight gain  There is no known cause of congenital heart defects but experts assume that they may occur when a mishap occurs during heart development soon after conception. Heredity, smoking, drinking alcohol during pregnancy, diabetes, certain medications, and Rubella are some of the major reasons that may result in CHDs in children.  Accord