A normal functioning heart is known to have two sides that function normally. Each of these have an inner wall that is responsible for supplying blood and oxygen to the heart. One side is able to take in blood to the heart, while the other pushes the blood back out of the heart. However, at times, this inner wall, also known as the septum, contains holes in it. This usually happens as a birth defect from a misshaped heart or a slight deformity.
Types of Holes in the Heart
If you have a baby that has holes in the heart, you want to first identify what type of problem it is. The first type is known as an atrial septal defect and is known to affect the upper chambers of the heart. The result is that blood gets pumped back into the lungs instead of being filtered out and into the areas that allow the blood to go back into the body. Other types of holes in the heart, such as the location being in the centre of the septum or the lower area of the septum. There is also a condition in which the hole is located on the arteries.
In most instances, the holes located in the heart also close on their own. If they are not repaired, it can lead to complications later in life. For instance, the right heart may fail because the heart has to work harder to receive and transmit blood and oxygen to the lungs. Other problems that may occur from this include irregular heartbeats, stroke and hypertension, meaning there is higher blood pressure in the lungs.
Conditions and Treatment
Even though this particular problem is known to occur at birth, most doctors do not understand why this disease occurs or happens during pregnancy. It is not related to different problems that may occur during pregnancy, even though the deformity occurs before birth. If a child is unable to cure the hole in their heart, then there will be shortness of breath, fatigue and a build up of fluids in the lungs, ankles and legs. If the hole does not repair on it's own, it is possible to receive surgery around the septum that allows the hole to move into a closure and provide the ability to allow the heart to function back at a normal pace. |
