When someone is suffering from congenital heart disease, what it means that there are malformations in the heart that have occurred from before the birth. These defects to the heart occur when the fetus is developing. Any person suffering from this condition exhibits symptoms at birth and even during childhood. Although doctors are unable to predict the exact reason for the occurrence of congenital heart diseases, it is accepted that genetic make up or abnormalities in the chromosomes can cause this. If the mother has taken medication or used drugs during her pregnancy, then the baby is likely to suffer from this disorder. If a woman has gone through viral infections like German measles during the first three months of her pregnancy, the baby is likely to have this problem. Some of the common congenital heart diseases are heart valve defects, a defect in the walls between the atria and the ventricles of the heart, abnormalities in the muscles of the heart.
Congenital heart diseases can be diagnosed even before the baby is born or during the childhood. People suffering from this condition usually complain of a shortness of breath and are therefore unable to exercise.
When people suffer from congenital heart diseases it is often possible to display no symptoms despite the problem. These conditions can be diagnosed by various testing conducted by doctors. The treatment of these conditions is based entirely on the nature of the disease. For mild heart diseases there is no need of any treatment while others can be treated by medication or surgery. One of the most important things to remember in the case of children with congenital heart disease is the importance to hygiene. These children are open to infections and for this reason the parents have to take extra care to ensure that complete hygiene is maintained. A child’s exercise regime also depends on his condition and if the child had undergone a surgery the doctor will be able to direct parents on the levels of activities. For adults with heart diseases, it is a good idea to cut down on smoking and drinking. Eating healthy is one of the best ways to keep your heart healthy. Avoid fried and oily food and eat healthy salads and low fat meals instead. A change in lifestyle will also help a great deal in keeping you fit and healthy. Ensure that you walk regularly and that you exercise as often as possible. Avoid sugar and unhealthy food items.