Congenital heart valve disorders and how to treat them

Heart valve disease is a disorder that occurs in one or more of your heart valves. This disease can occur due to other medical conditions, such as hypertension, heart failure, rheumatic fever, or a bacterial heart infection (endocarditis). Not only this condition, this heart valve abnormality can also occur due to congenital factors, which can begin to be found in babies before or after birth. So, what causes this congenital heart valve disease and how to deal with it?

What are congenital heart valve disorders?

The heart has four valves that work by closing and opening when the heart beats. The four heart valves, namely the mitral, tricuspid, pulmonary, and aortic valves.

These heart valves ensure blood flows in the right direction through the four chambers of your heart and throughout your body. If the valve is damaged, blood can flow back into the heart or find it difficult to get out of the heart.

In this condition, the heart needs to work harder to pump the blood back. Other organs of the body are at risk of experiencing a lack of nutrients or oxygen carried by the blood. Over time, this condition can lead to other serious problems, such as dilated cardiomyopathy, heart failure, or aortic aneurysm.

In congenital heart valve disorders, these disorders can occur since the baby is born. This condition is generally caused by the structure of the heart that did not develop properly when the baby was still in the womb.

This congenital heart valve disease can occur alone or in combination with other congenital heart defects. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) says, in severe conditions, the valve needs to be repaired or replaced when you are a baby, still a child, or before birth. However, some other cases may not cause problems until adulthood.

Types of congenital heart valve abnormalities that often occur

This heart valve disease from birth is one of the common congenital heart diseases. This congenital valve disorder most commonly affects the aortic and pulmonary valves in the heart. There are several types of congenital valve disease that often occur, namely:

1. Aortic valve stenosis

The aortic valve is the valve that separates the left ventricle and the large artery (aorta). Under normal conditions, the aortic valve has three tissue leaflets that make it easier for blood to pass through the valve.

In aortic stenosis, the aortic valve does not have a complete shape. In this condition, the aortic valve can have only one tissue leaf or two thick, stiff tissue leaflets. The leaflets might also stick together.

This thickened and narrowed tissue sheet prevents the valve from opening wide. In this condition, it becomes difficult for blood to flow out of the left ventricle into the aorta and other organs.

2. Pulmonary stenosis

The pulmonary valve is the valve that separates the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery leading to the lungs. Just like aortic stenosis, pulmonary valve stenosis occurs when the valve thickens and narrows, making it difficult for blood to pass from the heart to the pulmonary arteries and lungs.

In this condition, the heart needs to work harder to pump blood, which can cause damage to the heart muscle.

3. Pulmonary atresia

Apart from these two conditions, pulmonary atresia is also common in babies with congenital heart defects. In this condition, the pulmonary valve is not formed and there are only solid tissue leaflets.

In this condition, the blood cannot pass through the normal pathways to take oxygen from the lungs. Blood will pass through other channels in the heart and arteries.

What are the causes and risk factors for congenital heart valve abnormalities?

Congenital heart valve disease generally has no definite cause. This condition can occur because the valve does not develop properly and completely while the fetus is still in the womb.

However, there are several other factors that can increase the risk of a baby having congenital heart disease, such as genetics (heredity) with congenital heart disease, mothers who take certain drugs during pregnancy, mothers who have diabetes, mothers who smoke and consume alcohol during pregnancy, or mothers. who have certain infections during pregnancy, such as rubella.

What are the symptoms of congenital heart valve abnormalities?

Babies who have congenital heart valve disease may not experience certain symptoms. Generally, symptoms can be felt when the children are older or adults, if the disease has progressed. Some of the symptoms and signs that may arise include:

Chest pain.
Dizzy.
Fainting
Easily tired when on the move.
Hard to breathe.
Palpitations of the heart (palpitations).
Wheezing sound in the heart or a heart murmur.
Bluish or cyanotic skin, especially in infants with pulmonary atresia.

How to diagnose congenital heart valve abnormalities?

Some congenital heart diseases, including heart valves, can be detected while the fetus is still in the womb. In this condition, generally doctors will perform fetal echocardiography to check the baby's heart function since in the womb.

When the baby is born, the doctor may perform a physical examination and several tests to diagnose this congenital heart defect. Physical examination is performed using a stethoscope to detect whether there is a whooping sound from the heart (heart murmur), which is a sign of valve disease.

In addition, several other tests that may be done to detect congenital heart valve abnormalities include:

Echocardiography
Electrocardiography (EKG)
Chest X-ray
Cardiac catheterization
MRI of the heart
CT scan

How to treat congenital heart valve disease?

Some congenital heart diseases, including heart valves, may not require medical treatment. However, medical treatment may be given for congenital heart valve abnormalities, depending on the condition of each sufferer, including the baby.

Some of the possible treatments for this congenital heart disease are:

Balloon valvuloplasty, which is a catheter with a small balloon at the end, which is inserted through a vein from the groin to the aortic valve. The balloon will be inflated to stretch the valve so that blood can pass easily.
Medicines, especially those of pulmonary atresia. Medicines can also be given if this congenital heart defect is found in middle age. Medicines that may be given, such as antihypertensive drugs.
Heart valve repair or replacement surgery. This operation can prevent further damage to the baby's heart.

Every person with congenital heart defects, including heart valves, has different conditions. Therefore, it is important to always consult with your doctor about choosing the right treatment, including for your baby.

Even though treatment has been carried out, it is also important to always check with a doctor about health developments. Moreover, this congenital condition cannot be cured and sufferers may need lifelong medical care.

People with congenital heart valve disorders also need to adopt a healthy lifestyle for heart health. Some of them are eating a healthy diet, maintaining body weight, managing stress, and doing physical activity according to a doctor's recommendation.