Myths/misunderstandings about Congenital Heart Diseases

There are many misunderstandings about Congenital Heart Diseases. The Congenital Heart defect is a serious problem & can limit child’s prospects for a full life. In contrast, many heart defects can be cured or can be made significantly less severe through surgical or interventional procedures. Here are some common myths, which everyone believes. These myths must be removed from everyone’s mind because myths can create the biggest problems in one’s life.

 1) The children born with congenital heart defects cannot survive long life.

Truth: Survival rates for children with congenital heart defect were low in the past decades. But now the situation has changed. Today children with CHD can survive long life. Many heart defects can be cured or can be made significantly less severe through surgical or interventional procedures.

2) The children born with congenital heart defects cannot have an active Life.

Truth: Children with CHD can have an active life as they want through surgical corrections. Of course, not all children with congenital heart disease will be able to be that active, but many will. The objective is to have any child born with heart disease lead active life as much as possible. If All things considered, being active can be a part of leading a heart-healthy life.

3) The child has to be of certain age and before the heart disease can be operated upon.

Truth: Child suffering from congenital heart disease can be operated even at birth. The timing of operation depends upon when it is necessary than the age or the weight of the child. In certain heart diseases if you wait too long the diseases can become inoperable.

4) Congenital Heart disease affects only children.

Truth: Congenital Heart Disease is the common birth defect in children, affecting 1 out of 100 babies. But now Congenital Heart Disease in adults is increasing approximately five percent each year. Many children born with congenital heart diseases are growing into adults. Adult congenital heart disease requires life long care.

5) Congenital heart disease means a hole in the heart.

Truth: Hole in the heart is just one type of congenital heart disease. There are hundreds of different types of heart diseases. It could be valve blockages, abnormal connections of blood vessels, blockages of blood vessels, underdeveloped heart chambers, etc

6) There is increase in the incidence of congenital heart diseases

Truth: There is increased awareness about detection of congenital heart diseases. There are skilled doctors who are exclusively trained to look after children with congenital heart diseases and there is better equipment. As more and more children with heart diseases are detected early, it appears that the number is increasing.

7) Whenever a pediatrician advises echocardiography test, it’s going to be a serious problem.

Truth: The children are referred for echo test when a child specialist hears an abnormal heart sound which he/she calls heart murmur. Heart murmurs are very common in children and not all of them are associated with serious heart diseases. In fact, many murmurs disappear spontaneously and are called benign murmurs. In any case, even if it turns out to be significant heart problem it is best to know about it sooner rather than delaying it.

8) Rather than consulting child heart specialist we can wait to resolve the congenital heart defect on its own.

Truth: All congenital heart diseases do not resolve spontaneously. Some of them requires proper treatment. You may have come across children with a heart condition with the good or bad outcome, do not apply it to your own child.

9) All heart operations require open heart surgery

Truth: This is not true, some heart defects can have only open heart surgery, and others can be fixed without opening the chest through a tube passed through one of the blood vessels in the leg. There are some heart defects which require a combination of both.

10) Can the patient with congenital heart disease have a child?

Truth: For most adult congenital heart disease patients, successful pregnancy is possible. But there are risks you should assess before pregnancy, or as early in the pregnancy as possible. Depending upon your condition, your child might be in danger of low birth weight, respiratory distress syndrome, or premature delivery. Before pregnancy guardians must talk with adult congenital cardiologist about the issues they may face during pregnancy.

11) The cost of treatment for congenital heart disease is too much.

The cost of treatment for congenital heart disease is related to the seriousness and age of the youngsters and the materials utilized as a part of the operation. Some congenital heart diseases are not severe, so they will cost low but some congenital heart diseases can be severe so they may cost very high. Therefore, in different cases, different treatment costs.