2. Congenital Heart disease 

It is a type of in born heart disease that means disease caused by the defect in heart present at birth but may be detected later. Serious defect slows down the growth of child, also reduces its energy.  

Congenital heart disease may be due to following congenial defects:-  

  • Ventricular Septal defect – A hole in the wall between the right ventricle and the left  ventricle (ventricular septum)
  • Artial Septal defect
  • Abnormalities in the muscle of heart
  • Abnormalities in size, structure and abnormal functioning of the valves of the heart. 

3. Diseases of the valves of heart 

Due to rheumatic fever or congenital heart defects or some other unknown reason valves of heart do not work properly. Generally conditions like Stenosis and insufficiency are developed in the malfunctioning valve. Stenosis is a condition when calcium and other materials normally present in the blood accumulate on the doors (leaflets) of the valve.  

Due to Stenosis the hole through which the blood has to flow when the leaflets open becomes smaller or narrower and as the heart has to apply extra force to pump the same amount of blood through that small opening which leads to exertion on the heart.  

In normal condition when the doors (leaflets) of the valve close then blood flow in one direction only but when the valve is insufficient then in this condition the valve does not stay closed and allows blood to flow in wrong direction.

4. Cardiac Arrhythmia  

It is a condition when heart beats with an irregular or abnormal rhythm. Common causes are nervousness, acute infection etc. 

5. Rheumatic Heart Disease 

Due to rheumatic fever valves and muscle of heart are affected. Soar throat and joint pains from childhood may lead to rheumatic fever which ultimately can damage heart valves, heart muscle and may lead to heart failure. Strep throat infection or streptococcal infection should be treated in time with suitable antibiotic according to the advice of a physician. 

6. Carditis 

It means inflammation in heart. Following types of carditis may affect the heart due to infection:- 

  • Pericarditis: It is a condition that involves the outer surface of the heart becoming inflamed.
  • Endocarditis: It is the inflammation of the inside lining of the heart and valves of the heart.

7. Coarctation

The aorta is the main artery of the body. Aorta arises from the left ventricle of the heart and goes down. It subdivides into several branches that supply blood to all parts of the body. The first branches go to the arms, head etc. (i.e. the upper part of the body) and after that blood goes to lower part of the body (i.e. abdomen, legs etc.)

The Aorta may have an abnormal narrowing just beyond the branches that supply blood to upper part of the body (arms, head etc.). This abnormal narrowing of aorta is called Coarctation of the aorta.

Coarctation can increase blood pressure in the upper body and reduce blood pressure in lower body.

Coarctation can be corrected by surgery or sometimes by balloon angioplasty.

Author: S.N.Bhattacharya