Adult congenital heart disease
Congenital heart disease is an abnormality in the structure of the heart that is present from birth affecting between 1-2% of all live births. The quality of care for babies and children with congenital heart disease has greatly improved over the last decades. Therefore, more adults are now living with congenital heart disease than ever before. Congenital heart defects can range from mild to complex. For a more detailed information about the different types of congenital heart disease please see here.
Many adults live well with congenital heart disease. For them it is normal to attend the hospital for repeat assessments of the heart and symptoms. Follow-up with a specialist team is important as people with congenital heart disease have a higher chance of developing other heart conditions. This includes abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmias), infections of the heart (endocarditis), high blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension), and surgery or other interventions such as pacemakers or defibrillators.
Heart failure is a common long-term complication of congenital heart disease. Factors contributing to the development of heart failure include structural problems such as thickened or leaky heart valves, holes in the heart, or abnormal blood vessel connections. Some people have the main pumping chambers of the heart on opposite sides, while others might have only one single functioning pumping chamber. In many of these patients, surgery or another type of intervention can help improving the structure and function of the heart. The signs and symptoms for heart failure in congenital heart disease are very similar to those present in other types of heart failure, but they may be more challenging to recognise and treat. This is why regular follow-up with a specialist in congenital heart disease is important. They have access to blood tests and other investigations that can help identify when the heart function starts to change.
Over time, a person with congenital heart disease might develop reduced function or stiffening of the pumping chambers in the heart (ventricles). Typically, treatments include medications and devices like those used for people with heart failure who do not have congenital heart disease. Some people may require assessment for heart transplant. If you have congenital heart disease, it is very important to follow a healthy lifestyle including regular exercise and a heart healthy diet.
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