Hole In The Heart: Know The Diagnosis and Right Treatment
The heart is the powerhouse of the entire body, pumping blood into every cell of the body. Even the slightest problem in the heart can lead to significant repercussions resonating throughout the body.
The heart is the powerhouse of the entire body, pumping blood into every cell of the body. Even the slightest problem in the heart can lead to significant repercussions resonating throughout the body. But what if a person is born with a defect in their heart, like a hole in the heart?
A Septal defect is a congenital condition, present in the person at the time of his birth. A hole in the heart is known to impede the natural working of a human heart by altering the blood flow inside the heart. How does it function and what treatments are available for filling up the hole? Here is an article that addresses the congenital condition of septal defects or hole in the heart.
The Heart and The Hole
A human heart has two chambers where the right chamber receives oxygen-deficient blood, which is then transferred to the lungs. The lungs transport oxygen-rich to the left chamber, which then sends it out to the rest of the body. The wall that divides these two chambers is called the septum, which prevents the mixing of blood between the two sides of the heart.
The chambers are then further divided into two parts each, where the upper one is called the atrium, and the lower one is called ventricle. This information is essential to understand the complications a hole in the heart can create.
A small number of babies are born with a hole in the septum wall of their heart which allows the mixing of oxygen-poor and oxygen rich blood, sending oxygen-rich blood to the lungs, and oxygen-deficient blood to the body. As a result, children, and sometimes adults can develop dangerous conditions like shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling in legs, feet, and abdomen, skipped beats, and stroke.
When this hole happens in the upper septum wall, it is called an Atrial Septal Defect (ASD), while when the hole is present in the lower septum wall, it is called a Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD).
Symptoms of a Hole in the Heart
In several cases of an Atrial Septal Defect, the symptoms are either not very evident or are physically absent. However, when they do occur, a heart 'murmur' is the most common symptom. Other symptoms include:
● Fatigue
● Short Breath
● Swelling in the feet, ankles, legs, and abdomen
● A buildup of blood and fluid in the lungs, feet, ankles, and legs.
For Ventricular Septal Defect, a murmur is the only symptom of a hole in the heart.
Diagnosis of Septal Defect
Symptoms, as mentioned above, are definite signs that there is something wrong with a person's heart. In many cases of ASD, the symptoms do not show up until the age of 30 as well. This delays the diagnosis process in most cases. In cases of a VSD, the heartbeat has a distinct murmur that is heard through the stethoscope but does not happen until the baby turns at least 6 to 8 weeks old. Here is how doctors diagnose a hole in the heart.
● Echocardiography: A painless device that uses soundwaves to create an image of the heart.
● EKG: A device that records the heart’s electrical activity.
● Chest X-Ray: X-rays take pictures of the inside of a person’s body, revealing any kind of discrepancy.
● Pulse Oximetry: It is a device that calculates the amount of oxygen in the blood.
● Cardiac Catheterization: A small flexible tube is inserted into the veins through an arm, groin, or neck, and is then threaded to the heart. A dye is then added to the blood flow, which is monitored by the doctors for any abnormal flow.
Treating the Hole in The Heart
Most of the septal defects do not actually require treatment as they heal on their own in childhood or well into adulthood. However, medium-sized and large holes do require treatment as they can be the cause of heart failure and other cardiac conditions. There are two kinds of treatments available:
Open Heart Surgery: The cardiologist opens up the chest cavity and repairs the cavity with a special patch. The child is kept on a heart and lung bypass surgery during the operation to allow cutting into their heart. The patient is discharged 3 to 4 days after the surgery.
Catheter Procedure: A catheter is entered through a vein in the groin and threaded up to the heart. Inside the catheter is an umbrella-like device which is placed onto the hole to block it up. The tissues grow over the device within 6 months, with no need to remove it as the child grows.
These procedures have a high rate of success and ensure that a child goes on to live a happy, active, and comfortable life. As far as the cause is concerned, doctors are not really sure what causes congenital heart defects. However, if there is any question that you need, then visit the best Dr. Himanshu Tyagi overlooking the Department of Paediatric Cardiology at Medipulse Hospital, Jodhpur.
Trans-Radial and Trans-Femoral Approach for Angioplasty
Medicine and healthcare are the sectors that have largely benefitted with the advancement in technology. Technology has not only improved the quality of results in the field but has also accelerated the growth. There are millions of research and development programs undergoing to discover a breakthrough technology that would improve the quality of people’s life. One such discovery that has become a frontier in treatment is Angioplasty.
Medicine and healthcare are the sectors that have largely benefitted with the advancement in technology. Technology has not only improved the quality of results in the field but has also accelerated the growth. There are millions of research and development programs undergoing to discover a breakthrough technology that would improve the quality of people’s life. One such discovery that has become a frontier in treatment is Angioplasty.
In Angioplasty, a catheter is threaded through a blood vessel to the site of the blockage, which leaves the blood vessel open. The catheter has a balloon attached which expands once inside, pushing the material away. The balloon is then deflated, and the catheter is removed. This procedure requires small incision either in the groin or wrist, causing minimal invasion.
There are two approaches to perform Angioplasty: Radial Angioplasty and Femoral Angioplasty. Let's study them in detail:
Femoral Angioplasty
Traditionally, Angioplasty was performed by making a small incision in the groin area. The catheter is inserted in the femoral artery, i.e., the artery supplying the leg.
Radio Angioplasty
A recent development, wherein the incision is made in the wrist. The catheter is inserted in the artery supplying the hand. It has become one of the most frequently used routes.
Even though angiography is performed to determine the most suitable treatment option for the patient, Radial angioplasty is preferred widely as it has proved to be a safer and more convenient option in most cases.
Trans Radial Angioplasty over Trans Femoral Angioplasty?
Femoral Angioplasty has a long history of success, and as it is a traditional method of performing the surgery, more doctors are trained in this procedure. Moreover, this procedure is highly suggested to patients with extensive peripheral artery disease. However, the process entails the following:
The patient is required to stay flat for 4-6 hours.
There are high chances of bleeding and blood collection at the local site.
Chances of backache and difficulty in passing urine.
Advantages of Radial Angioplasty:
Less discomfort and reduced risk of bleeding.
The patient can move around as soon as the effect of anesthesia vanishes.
The patient is allowed to eat and drink after the procedure.
Reduced hospital stay.
With numerous benefits to offer, the trans-radial approach has become a first-choice approach for many doctors and patients alike.
With the advent of hardware and technology in the coming years, the medical industry is going to witness and welcome simpler and safer interventions. Incorporating the latest technology and medical equipment to provide quality treatment and care to the patients, Medipulse has been ranked as the top private hospital in Jodhpur. Headed by one of the best cardiologists in Jodhpur, Dr. Vineet Jain, the cardiology department ensures the best possible treatment of the patient.
Prevalence of Cardiovascular Disease in Diabetic Patients
Inside the human body, the various systems that keep a person alive are interdependent on each other to carry out their functions. But quite often, we witness situations that cause the failure or shortcoming of one of these organs, causing the other to fail as well. This concept sits at the very core of Diabetes, a condition in which the body’s ability to maintain glucose levels (or blood sugar levels) fails.
Inside the human body, the various systems that keep a person alive are interdependent on each other to carry out their functions. But quite often, we witness situations that cause the failure or shortcoming of one of these organs, causing the other to fail as well. This concept sits at the very core of Diabetes, a condition in which the body’s ability to maintain glucose levels (or blood sugar levels) fails.
Diabetes is caused when the body cannot make enough insulin or does not make optimal use of available insulin, a hormone that turns glucose into usable energy for the cells of the human body. As dangerous as diabetes may seem for the body, it opens the doors of a patient’s body to something much worse; cardiovascular diseases.
Are Diabetes and Cardiovascular Diseases Related?
Yes, Diabetes and Cardiovascular Diseases are related in more profound ways. Heart diseases are caused by narrowing or blockage of blood vessels in essential regions of the heart and chest cavity. If it gets delayed, it leads to heart attacks, chest pains, and strokes. With blood glucose levels rising due to diabetes, the damage to blood vessels and nerves goes into hyperdrive. The longer a person has had diabetes, the chances of developing cardiovascular diseases increase rapidly.
Consider these stats from around the world:
● 68% of diabetic patients above the age of 65 die because of some form of heart disease, out of which, about 16% die of stroke.
● Diabetic adults are 200% to 400% more likely to contract heart diseases than non-diabetic adults.
● A premier world organization for cardiac health considers diabetes as one of the top 7 causes or factors of Cardiovascular diseases.
Why People With Diabetes Have Higher Risk of Heart Diseases?
Diabetes is a condition that can significantly affect the overall health of a person's heart and circulatory system if it’s in full swing. Even though it can be controlled to the limit that it can become almost dormant, however, its very nature is quite dangerous for other vital organs of our body. Excessive blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes accelerate the damage to the heart in the following way.
● High Blood Pressure: High blood pressure (hypertension) and diabetes, collaboratively, provide severe damage to the heart. This is simply because hypertension puts abnormally high pressure on the walls of the blood vessels, and diabetes works to damage the walls of the vessels.
● Bad Lipid Profile: Diabetes instantly causes the level of bad cholesterol (LDL), and triglycerides shoot up, while the good cholesterol (HDL) levels take a sudden dip. These conditions perfectly replicate the early symptoms of heart diseases.
● Obesity: Insulin resistance has a strong link to obesity in humans, which in turn also is one of the major contributing factors in the development of heart diseases.
● Sedentary Lifestyle: One of the major risk factors for both diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, is physical inactivity. With proper and timely exercising, a person can reduce the chances, delay, and even prevent conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart attacks.
● Abnormal (High) Blood Sugar Levels: Diabetes increases blood sugar level to dangerous levels, which in turn, harm the heart and kidneys to irreparable extents.
● Smoking: Smoking, in general, is a risk factor for the human body, especially to diabetic patients. It makes our body resistant to insulin, leading to higher blood sugar level. Such dangerous sugar level in our body warrants extreme problems for many organs, including the heart.
How to Stop Diabetes From Giving You a Heart Attack?
The simplest way is to manage the ABCSs in a person.
● A for A1C test: the A1C test shows the average blood sugar levels over the last 3 months, which is a different measure than the daily sugar level checks. The goal is to keep this level below 7 percent.
● B for Blood Pressure: A high blood pressure makes the person’s heart work harder to keep the blood pumping, which can harm a lot of other organs, alongside the blood vessels.
● C for Cholesterol: Reducing bad cholesterol levels and getting more good cholesterol in the system will keep the blood vessels healthy.
● S for Stress and Smoking: Smoking and Stress are the two biggest risk and contributing factors in taking a person’s diabetes to cardiovascular disease levels.
Diabetes is definitely a condition that can escalate even the simplest of problems to catastrophic levels. That is why, for even the simplest of symptoms, make sure that you take care of your cardiac health by visiting the best heart specialist hospital in Jodhpur, Medipulse. With the team of expert doctors always monitoring the situations, Medipulse is where you can get the best care for your heart. Visit now for a consultation and to secure your heart better.