Doctors routinely check blood pressure because controlled blood pressure is vital to the health of the entire body. Blood pressure is measured by two numbers: systolic and diastolic. Systolic blood pressure (the first or top number) relays the pressure of blood against the artery walls when the heart beats. Diastolic pressure (the second or bottom number) explains the force of blood against the artery walls between heartbeats. Blood pressure is usually recorded as systolic over diastolic (ex: 120 over 80 or 120/80).

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An aneurysm is an enlarged area in a blood vessel. The wall of the vessel weakens, and it bulges like a balloon. This specific type of aneurysm is in the aorta, the primary supplier of blood in the body and the body’s largest artery. The aorta runs from the from the heart where it starts just after the aortic valve and goes down into the abdomen where it is referred to as the abdominal aorta. An abdominal aortic aneurysm happens in the lower part of the aorta. These aneurysms are classified as either small or large. Small ones measure under 5.5 centimeters and large ones measure more than 5.5 centimeters.

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People with a congenital heart defect (CHD) suffer from a birth defect to their heart. The defect is in the structure of the heart, and specifically within the vessels. There are many different heart defects, most are caused by issues with blood flowing through the heart in an odd of abnormal way. Obstructions occur and the blood doesn’t get where it needs to go correctly. Other defects work to affect the heart’s normal rhythm and pace. Heart defects are the number one cause of death caused by birth defects. They are also among the most widespread and common birth defects. About 9 babies in 1000 get born with a heart defect. The good news is that a lot of heart defects are not actually going to need treatment. Those that do are typically treated with medicines or with some heart surgery.

Symptoms

The type of symptoms people will see depend on the severity and type of CHD. Some CHDs go undetected due to a lack of symptoms throughout a person’s life, but most symptoms are present right in the beginning. The most common symptoms and signs are a bluish tint to the skin, fingernails, and lips, a heart murmur, shortness of breath or fast breathing, poor weight gain in infants or poor feeding, and fatigue during activity or exercise. Older children with CHDs may get tired easily or become short of breath during physical exertion. Most CHDs cause the heart to work harder than it should, which can eventually lead to heart failure. The Heart and Stroke Foundation provides information about CHD and its symptoms.

Causes

Potential causes of CHD may be either environmental or genetic. They may be a combination of the two factors. Many of the identified causes of CHD are unexpected genetic changes. This includes focal mutations and the addition/deletion of segments of DNA. It’s also possible for specific microscopic abnormalities in chromosomes to cause CHD. Genetics and a person’s heredity can be responsible for some versions of heart defects. A parent who has a CHD may be more likely than other people to have a child with a CHD, although it is rare for more than one child in a family to be born with a heart defect. Women who choose to smoke during pregnancy have also shown a correlation with CHD.

Prevention

During the first trimester of pregnancy and before a woman becomes pregnant are the critical times for preventing a congenital heart defect. Prior to pregnancy, every woman should check to make sure she is immune to rubella. The best way to find out is to be tested, and if no immunity is shown, to be vaccinated. All women should avoid using street drugs during pregnancy. Women should also control their exposure to alcohol, strong chemicals, x-rays, and prescription medications during pregnancy. Women who suffer from seizures or diabetes should also talk with their physicians before attempting to conceive to help minimize or eliminate any risk to the developing fetus. For parents with other children or other familial relations with a CHD may want to look into genetic counseling before making a decision on trying to conceive another child.

Treatment

There is some good news. There are cases where CHD improves without serious treatment, and some defects are tiny and don’t need any treatment whatsoever. Sadly, most cases of CHD are very serious. Treatment will included medication, leading to surgery if that isn’t enough.

Common medications will usually start to try and help the body eliminate water and salts as well as a medication designed to strengthen the heart contractions. Some defects may require surgery to attempt to restore a person’s circulation to a more normal level. The treatment generally depends on the type and severity of heart defect, and also depends on the child ’s age, general health, and size. Most patients prefer catheter procedures over surgery because they are much easier on the body, and because of this they are becoming more common. Catheter procedures involve a needle puncture in the skin where the flexible, thin tube is inserted into an artery or vein. Thus, doctors do not need to operate directly on the heart and thus do not need to open the chest, making the recovery much easier and quicker. Catheter procedures have become the preferred way to repair many simple heart defects. Many patients will have to undergo a lifetime of  specialized treatment and cardiac care. It will begin by seeing a cardiologist specializing in children. Following that, they will see a congenital cardiologist later for adults later in life. There are over 1,800,000 adults in the world who have to live with CHD.

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An irregular heartbeat (also known as an arrhythmia) is any of a heterogeneous and large group of conditions in which there is an abnormal level of electrical activity in the heart. The heartbeat may be too slow (called bradycardia) or too fast (called tachycardia). It can occur in the lower chambers of the heart (ventricles) or upper chambers of the heart (atria). Most irregular heartbeats are not a life-threatening issue, although some are capable of causing a person to suffer from cardiac arrest. In fact, it can be a common cause of death when someone is heading to a hospital for treatment. There are many different types including Premature Ventricular Contractions (among the most common arrhythmias and occur in people with or without heart disease), Ventricular fibrillation (disorganized, erratic firing of impulses from the ventricles – medical emergency), Heart block (a complete block or delay of the electrical impulse as is travels to the ventricles, causing the heart to beat more slowly), and Bradyarrhythmias (slow heart rhythms).

Symptoms

An irregular heartbeat can be silent and not cause any symptoms, and people can live their entire lives without experiencing any symptoms. A physician can identify an irregular heartbeat during a physical exam through an electrocardiogram or by simply taking your pulse. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, symptoms may involve palpitations (a feeling of skipped heart beats), pounding in your chest, fainting, dizziness, shortness of breath, feeling light-headed, fatigue, chest discomfort, and general weakness. Patients may also suffer a loss of consciousness and mental confusion.

Causes

An irregular heartbeat may be caused by many different factors, including electrolyte imbalances in your blood (such as potassium or sodium), coronary artery disease; injury from a heart attack; changes in your heart muscles; and during the healing process post surgery. It may occur in normal hearts. A slow or fast heart rate does not necessarily mean your heart rhythm is abnormal. Heart rate is also related to activity, anxiety, medications, or other natural causes. An irregular heartbeat may be caused by disorders that damage the heart and its valves, such as rheumatic fever, myocarditis, and endocarditis, or disorders of the thyroid gland. Some drugs, including stimulants, digitalis, and diuretics may also cause an irregular heartbeat, as well as overdoses of anti-depressants or recreational drugs. The risk of an irregular heartbeat increases with smoking, advancing age, kidney disease, high blood pressure, general stress, and an excess consumption of alcohol or caffeine.

Prevention

You can help reduce your risk for irregular heartbeat by engaging in regular physical activity, avoiding excessive amounts of caffeine and alcohol, staying away from illegal drugs, and quitting smoking. You may also want to stay away from stimulants used in cold and cough medications. These lifestyle changes are the best way to help prevent an irregular heartbeat from occurring, and are good for your heart and overall health in general. For people who suffer from an irregular heartbeat, there are numerous treatment options available to them.

Treatment

A variety of drugs are available to help treat an irregular heartbeat. Antiarrhythmic drugs help control heart rate and include beta-blockers.

Antiplatelet and therapy drugs decrease the threat of blood clots. In non-emergency situations, an electric shock may be administered to correct an irregular heartbeat. You receive anesthesia and then an electrical shock which synchronizes the heart and helps the normal rhythm restart. If the physician is able to pinpoint certain regions of the heart that are causing the abnormal rhythm, then a catheter ablation (an outpatient procedure) can be performed. This procedure uses radio wave energy to destroy these areas and removes damaged heart tissue. For people who have a dangerously slow heartbeat, a pacemaker may be implanted in the chest. A pacemaker is a small device that works to supply regular electrical triggers into the heart. This helps it speed up when it beats too slowly. In some rare cases, heart surgery may be needed to correct heart disease that could be causing the irregular heartbeat.

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Chest Pain. While this is the most common symptoms for men and women, it’s typically felt differently by each gender. Unlike men who feel tightness on the left side of the body, women instead tend to feel pain throughout the entire chest. Many women have been described as it feeling like a vice slowing tightening on their chest.

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Heart attacks are also called myocardial infarction. These range in severity, but many are fatal. The good news is that treatment for heart attacks continues to improve. Quick diagnosis and getting help quickly reduces the chance of death and the chance of damaging the heart muscle. Men having a heart attack should contact 911 immediately.

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The process of cardiac catheterization allows for doctors to perform diagnostic tests through the inserted catheter. While normally used for diagnostics, there are also some heart treatments which are completed using cardiac catheterization.

Most people who undergo cardiac catheterization do so with medication to help relax them, but still awake. Cardiac catheterization is a relatively safe procedure and the chances of complications are low. This also means that recovery time is often very quick.

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