Know about Congenital Heart Disease

Congenital Heart Disease

Congenital geart disease is the name given to heart disorders that are present when we are born. These conditions can be diagnosed before birth, immediately after birth or during childhood. Sometimes the condition is so minor that the symptoms don't show themselves until adolescence or adulthood.

What causes congenital heart disease?

If your child is born with a congenital heart disorder your first reaction will most probably be to ask, "Why me?", The answer is simply - we don't know. It's not a hereditary disease and there is no evidence to show that it is anything other than a matter of chance.

Classification of congenital defects

Common defects include:

• Abnormal blood vessels that restrict the flow of blood
• faulty valves that either restrict or block blood flow
• incorrect connections between heart, arteries and veins
• defects inthe partitions between the atria or the ventricles

The most common of these defects are:

Atrial septal defect (ASD): An opening between the twoatria (the top cardiac chambers) caused by a holle in the atrial septum.

Ventricular septal defect (VSD): An opening between the two ventricles (the lower cardiac chambers) caused by a hole in the ventricular septum.

Pulmonary stenosis (PS): A narrowing of the valve leading to the lungs.

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA): A connection between the aorta and the pulmonary artery, which usually closes at birth, remains open.

Coarctation of the aorta: A narrowing of the aorta - the main blood vessel leading from the heart.

The treatment for congenital heart disorders is usually surgery.

Types of Pain Relievers Drugs (Pain Killer)

Pain Relievers

Pain relievers fall into three broad categories, to treat different types and causes of pain. Work is also now underway in America to develop a whole new range of pain reliever drugs that are not addictive.

Paracetamols
The first category is the paracetamols, whose recommended daily dose is 4 grams per day for adults. Different kinds of paracetamol should never be mixed as there is a clear risk of exceeding this dosage. The best known brands are Panadol, Tylenol and Dafalgen. Paracetamols are used to reduce fever, ease headaches, joint and muscle pain by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis in the central nervous system.

NSAIDs
These drugs (Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs), like the Paracetamols, should not be interchanged, not even with aspirin as there is a possibility of side effects. The main NSAIDs brands Diclofenac (Voltaren) and Ibuprofen (Brufen). This is a large class of pain reliever drugs used mainly to treat arthritis by interfering with the inflammatory process.

Opioids
The best known of these drugs, that work by reducing a patient\'s perception of pain are Codeine and Morphine, and like the above should not be mixed.

Other Pain Relievers
These include local anesthetics like Lignocaine, Bupivicaine and Ropivacaine, nerve blockers and epidurals.