Heart Defects and Failure

This kind of heart defect is present at birth, although it may not be discovered until later. In it, the heart or a major blood vessel near the heart fails to mature normally during the period of growth before birth. About 100,000 to 200,000 children are born with heart defects in the United States each year.

Mild inborn defects may never cause trouble; but serious ones may interfere with circulation of the blood, slow the child's growth, and reduce his energy. Because of great progress in heart surgery, most patients with congenital heart defects can be restored to normal or near-normal health.

To say that a person has heart failure does not mean that his heart has stopped beating. In congestive heart failure, the heart muscle goes on working, but with less strength than is needed for good health. This condition may follow a severe heart attack or rheumatic fever, or it may occur in connection with a congenital heart defect or with very high blood pressure. It often results, especially in elderly people, from muscle damage due to atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries.

The usual symptoms are swelling of legs and ankles (edema) and extreme shortness of breath. Treatment includes drugs to strengthen the action of the heart; rest to ease its work load; and diet or drugs, especially digitalis and diuretics, to control edema.

Patients who follow their doctor's instructions faithfully find that their heart failure can be controlled. Usually they can carry on their normal activities while guarding their hearts against extra strain.