Where is the heart located in the body? How does the heart work? What are the signs and symptoms of heart disease? Get the answers to these questions and more in this detailed guide on the heart’s anatomy and function.

The Heart’s Location and Structure

The heart is a complex organ that sits in the chest, slightly to the left of center, behind the breastbone and between the lungs. It is responsible for pumping blood throughout the body by filling with blood and then contracting to push the blood through the circulatory system.

The heart has four distinct chambers: the left and right atria at the top, and the left and right ventricles at the bottom. The septum is a tissue wall that separates the left and right chambers. The heart also has four valves that regulate the flow of blood:

• The pulmonic valve opens and closes to regulate blood flow from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery (lungs).
• The aortic valve opens and closes to regulate oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to the aorta (the largest artery in the body).
• The mitral valve opens and closes to regulate oxygenated blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle.
• The tricuspid valve opens and closes to regulate blood flow from the right atrium to the right ventricle.

The heart also contains three types of tissue:

1. Myocardium: Muscular tissue that causes the heart to contract and relax.
2. Endocardium: A thin tissue that covers the chambers and valves of the heart.
3. Pericardium: A thin, sack-like layer that provides support and protection for the heart while reducing friction between the beating heart and its surrounding tissues.

How the Heart Works

The right side of the heart receives blood from the veins and pumps it on toward the lungs, where the blood receives oxygen and removes carbon dioxide. The left side of the heart then receives the oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it through arteries to the rest of the body.

Electrical impulses tell the heart how often to contract or “beat,” allowing it to function as a highly efficient pump.

Signs of Heart Disease

Heart disease is the umbrella term for a range of conditions that affect the heart. Some people may have “silent” heart disease, meaning they will not develop symptoms until they experience a cardiac event, such as a heart attack, arrhythmia, or heart failure.

Signs of Arrhythmia

Heart arrhythmia is the medical term for a heartbeat that is too fast, too slow, or irregular. Arrhythmias can cause a fluttering sensation in the chest, known as palpitations. Persistent arrhythmias can also lead to more severe symptoms, such as:

• Pounding sensations in the chest
• Weakness or fatigue
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Fainting
• Shortness of breath
• Anxiety
• Pain or pressure in the chest
• Sudden cardiac arrest
• Swelling in the feet, legs, hands, or other areas of the body

Signs of Heart Failure

Heart failure is a condition where the heart is no longer effective at pumping blood around the body. Some common signs of heart failure include:

1. An unexplained increase in heart rate
2. Tiredness or fatigue
3. Confusion or inability to think clearly
4. Nausea
5. Loss of appetite
6. Swelling in the feet, legs, hands, or other areas of the body with unexplained weight gain
7. Shortness of breath
8. Sleeping on extra pillows
9. Waking up at night short of breath
10. A persistent cough that may produce pink-tinged mucus

Signs of a Heart Attack

A heart attack is a medical emergency in which the blood supply to the heart becomes blocked, causing the heart muscles to become damaged and start to die. The five most common signs of a heart attack include:

• Chest pain or discomfort
• Pain or discomfort in one or both shoulders or arms
• Discomfort or pain in the jaw, back, or neck
• Shortness of breath
• Feeling weak, lightheaded, or faint

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the symptoms of a heart attack may vary between biological males and females. Both sexes are likely to experience chest discomfort or pain, but biological females are more likely to experience additional symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

Maintaining a Healthy Heart

While some heart conditions are “silent,” it is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of heart disease and to seek medical attention if you experience any concerning symptoms. Regular check-ups with your healthcare provider, a healthy lifestyle, and proactive management of any underlying conditions can all help to keep your heart healthy and reduce your risk of developing heart disease.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the heart is a complex and vital organ that plays a crucial role in our overall health and well-being. By understanding the heart’s anatomy, how it works, and the signs and symptoms of heart disease, we can take steps to maintain a healthy heart and reduce our risk of developing serious cardiovascular conditions.

Where is the heart located in the body and how does it work?

The heart is a complex organ that pumps blood throughout the body. It sits in the chest, slightly left of center, behind the breastbone, and between the lungs.

A heart that is not healthy does not always produce symptoms. However, certain signs and symptoms can indicate a problem with the heart.

This article describes the anatomy of the heart and how it works. We also provide tips on how to tell if the heart is healthy and outline some symptoms of various heart conditions.

The heart is responsible for pumping blood throughout the body. To do this, the heart fills with blood and then contracts to push the blood through the circulatory system. Electrical impulses tell the heart how often to contract or “beat.”

The right side of the heart receives blood from the veins and pumps it on toward the lungs. Here, the blood receives oxygen and removes carbon dioxide for the lungs to breathe out. The left side of the heart then receives the oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it through arteries to the rest of the body.

The interactive BodyMap diagram below shows the location of the heart in the chest. Press the buttons to interact, including adding and removing layers and moving around the diagram.

The heart has four distinct chambers. The left and right atria are at the top, and the left and right ventricles are at the bottom. The septum is a tissue wall separating the left and right chambers.

The heart also has four valves:

• The pulmonic valve opens and closes to regulate blood flow from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery (lungs).
• The aortic valve opens and closes to regulate oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to the aorta (the largest artery in the body).
• The mitral valve opens and closes to regulate oxygenated blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle.
• The tricuspid valve opens and closes to regulate blood flow from the right atrium to the right ventricle.

The heart also contains the following three types of tissue:

• Myocardium: Muscular tissue that causes the heart to contract and relax.
• Endocardium: A thin tissue that covers the chambers and valves of the heart.
• Pericardium: A thin, sack-like layer that provides support and protection for the heart while reducing friction between the beating heart and its surrounding tissues.

Heart disease is the umbrella term for a range of conditions that affect the heart.

Some people may have “silent” heart disease. This means that a person will not develop symptoms until they experience a cardiac event, such as a heart attack, arrhythmia, or heart failure.

Signs of arrhythmia

Heart arrhythmia is the medical term for a heartbeat that is too fast, too slow, or irregular. Arrhythmias occur when the electrical impulses that control the heartbeat malfunction. This can give rise to a fluttering sensation in the chest, which doctors refer to as palpitations.

A persistent arrhythmia can affect heart function, leading to more severe symptoms, such as:

• pounding sensations in the chest
• weakness or fatigue
• dizziness or lightheadedness
• fainting
• shortness of breath
• anxiety
• pain or pressure in the chest
• sudden cardiac arrest
• swelling in the feet, legs, hands or other areas of the body

Palpitations are not always a sign of an underlying heart condition. They can occur as a result of anxiety or the use of caffeine and other stimulants. However, a person should see a doctor if they experience frequent arrhythmias, or they experience other signs and symptoms of a heart problem.

Signs of heart failure

Heart failure is where the heart is no longer effective at pumping blood around the body. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), some common signs of heart failure include:

• an unexplained increase in heart rate
• tiredness or fatigue
• confusion or inability to think clearly
• nausea
• loss of appetite
• swelling in the feet, legs, hands or other areas of the body with unexplained weight gain
• shortness of breath
• sleeping on extra pillows
• waking up at night short of breath
• a persistent cough that may produce pink-tinged mucus

A heart attack is a medical emergency in which the blood supply to the heart becomes blocked. Without sufficient blood supply, the heart muscles become damaged and begin to die.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the five most common signs of a heart attack include:

• chest pain or discomfort
• pain or discomfort in one or both shoulders or arms
• discomfort or pain in the jaw, back or neck
• shortness of breath
• feeling weak, lightheaded, or faint

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the symptoms of a heart attack may vary between biological males and females. Both sexes are likely to experience chest discomfort or pain. However, biological females are more likely to experience the following additional symptoms:

• shortness of breath
• nausea or vomiting
• pain in the back or jaw

A person should call 911 or seek emergency care if they or someone they are with is experiencing symptoms of a heart attack.

Heart disease is an umbrella term that can refer to several different heart conditions. The most common is coronary artery disease (CAD). In CAD, the major arteries that supply the heart become blocked or damaged, thereby increasing the risk of a heart attack.

Other conditions related to heart disease include:

• Angina: Pain in the chest due to lack of blood to the heart.
• Aortic aneurysm and dissection: A condition in which the aorta becomes enlarged or torn.
• Arrhythmias: A heartbeat that is irregular or abnormally fast or slow.
• Atherosclerosis: A buildup of fatty deposits, or plaque, in the arteries.
• Atrial fibrillation: Rapid heartbeat in the upper chambers of the heart that can increase the risk of stroke.
• Cardiomyopathy: Enlargement or weakening of the heart muscle.
• Congenital heart defects: Heart abnormalities present from birth.
• Heart failure: Inability of the heart to effectively pump blood around the body or inability of the heart to relax.
• Marfan syndrome: A genetic condition that affects connective tissues throughout the body, including the aorta.
• Peripheral artery disease (PAD): A narrowing of the arteries that reduces blood flow to the limbs.
• Pulmonary hypertension: High blood pressure in the artery that leads from the heart to the lungs.
• Rheumatic heart disease: A potential complication of rheumatic fever that can lead to blockages of the heart valves.
• Valvular heart disease: The valves in the heart do not open fully or leak when they close.

The American Society of Echocardiography also identifies several health conditions that can impact the heart. They include:

• diabetes
• obesity
• obstructive sleep apnea
• hypertension
• kidney disease
• inflammatory bowel disease
• cancer treatments, including chemotherapy or radiation therapy to the chest

A person should talk to their doctor if they experience signs or symptoms of the following conditions:

• heart arrhythmia
• heart disease
• any underlying medical condition that could affect the heart

A person should call 911 or seek emergency care immediately if they experience signs or symptoms of a heart attack. Prompt treatment is crucial to restoring blood flow to the heart.

The heart is a complex organ with several chambers, valves, and tissues that work together to pump blood around the body. Electrical impulses regulate the timing of each heartbeat.

Sometimes, heart disease is silent, meaning a person may not develop any symptoms until they experience a cardiac event, such as arrhythmia or heart attack. People must see a doctor if they experience any concerns relating to their heart.

Some possible signs of heart disease include palpitations, lightheadedness, and fatigue. While these can be symptoms of other conditions, it is best to see a doctor for a diagnosis. Treatments can help to slow the progression of heart disease and reduce the risk of complications.

Basic Anatomy of the Human Heart – Cardiology Associates of Michigan

Basic Anatomy of the Human Heart

Published: October 22nd, 2019

The heart is simply spectacular. While it’s small compared to the overall body, it’s the core of each person’s entire being, literally and symbolically. While the heart itself is not as complex as some other areas of the body, it literally runs every other part of your body. While your heart can’t literally break, the phenomenon can feel like a heart attack.

When you really think about it, the heart is somewhat adorable, isn’t it? It’s made up of several different parts that are all there to work together for you. It is you. It’s the master. The top dog, so you will want to take care of it as much as it takes care of you.

But do you know what’s truly astonishing about this amazing powerhouse that you couldn’t live without? It typically only weighs less than one pound.

Fun Facts About the Heart

• The heart beats 100,000 times per day.
• It pumps five or six quarts of blood each minute.
• There are 60,000 miles of blood vessels in the body.
• Located at the top of your heart, the aorta is the main artery that carries blood away from your heart to the rest of your body. It’s as large as a garden hose.
• Newborn babies have the fastest heart beats.
• Laughing is good for your heart.
• Sneezing does not stop the heart from beating, but feel free to tell others “bless you” anyway.

Anatomy of the Heart

The heart is located between the lungs behind the sternum and above the diaphragm. It is surrounded by a sac called the pericardium. It’s only about the size of a fist, and it weighs 7 to 15 ounces. It’s a hollow, muscular organ.

The Heart Chambers

The heart consists of four chambers, two on the top and two on the bottom.

• The two bottom chambers are called the right ventricle and the left ventricle. They pump blood out of the heart. A wall called the interventricular septum separates them.
• The two top chambers are the right atrium and the left atrium, the plural of which is atria. They receive the blood entering the heart. The wall that separates them is called the interatrial septum.

The Heart Valves

The heart also has four valves, which separate the top chambers from the bottom chambers and also move blood.

• Atrioventricular valves separate the atria from the ventricles (the top chambers from the bottom chambers). The tricuspid valve separates the right side, and the mitral valve separates the left side.
• Two additional valves separate the ventricles from the large blood vessels that carry blood leaving the heart.
  • The pulmonic valve is between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery. It carries blood to the lungs.
  • The aortic valve is between the left ventricle and the aorta. It carries blood to the body.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HEART HEALTH

Scientists explained the rarest anomaly of internal organs in humans 29.10. 2019

Scientists explained the rarest anomaly of internal organs in humans.10.2019

2019-10-29T08:00

2019-10-29T08:00

2019-10-29T16:35

science

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usa

discoveries – ria science

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MOSCOW, October 29 – RIA Novosti, Tatyana Pichugin. When examining a 52-year-old Indian citizen who was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia, doctors revealed a rare anomaly – a mirror arrangement of internal organs that accompanied Sievert-Kartagener syndrome, ANI reports. This is the result of a congenital malfunction of tiny cellular cilia. The cilia know where left and right are. Outwardly, the human body is symmetrical: we have two arms, two legs, a pair of eyes and ears, separated by a conditional vertical axis of symmetry. Internally, however, this rule is broken. The heart is one and located on the left, the liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas are also in a single copy – to the right of the stomach. There are a pair of kidneys, as well as lungs, but the right lung has a horizontal groove, while the left one does not. The asymmetry of the internal organs is laid at an early stage of embryonic development, when cilia play a key role – microscopic cilia on the surface of almost every cell type. They are sensitive to chemical signals: hormones, growth factors. One cell has one cilia. If the cilia do not work properly, severe pathologies occur. One of them is the Sievert-Kartagener syndrome, in which a person experiences problems with the nasopharynx and breathing. In a quarter of these patients, a mirror arrangement of internal organs, or situs inversus, is revealed. This phenomenon was already known in the middle of the 17th century, and a scientific description was given in 1904, the Russian doctor Alexander von Sievert and three decades later, the Swiss Manes Kartagener. This inherited genetic disease occurs in one in 22,000 newborns. Although many cases, researchers from Melbourne (Australia) suggest, may be unknown. They cite the story of a nine-year-old girl who was brought to the Royal Children’s Hospital. The child choked on a piece of raw carrot, coughed for several minutes. The coughing fits did not go away, and it was decided to take her to the doctors. An x-ray showed inflammation in the left lung, darkening of the left bronchi, and a complete mirror arrangement of the internal organs. An additional test showed that the patient had Sievert-Kartagener syndrome. It turned out that she was born healthy, but on the second day she began to have nasal discharge, she needed treatment, the girl suffered from otitis media and coughing attacks, so she was diagnosed with asthma. it is found in horses, pigs, cats and dogs, fish, rodents. The exact causes are unknown, although the mechanism has been broadly established. Two dozen genes have been identified that are responsible for the left-right asymmetry of internal organs during embryonic development. For example, in May of this year, scientists from the Tokyo Research University reported that they had found a gene that determines the formation of left-right asymmetry in molluscs of the common pond snail species (Lymnaea stagnalis). Using the CRISPR–Cas9 gene editorscientists have developed a line of snails with a disabled Lsdia1 gene. This section of DNA regulates the internal program of cells. Pond knockouts gave birth to offspring with a very rare defect: their shells were twisted counterclockwise. The authors of the work believe that this will help to better understand the reasons for the complete mirror arrangement of the internal organs in humans. The history of Rose Situs inversus increases the risk of heart disease, but does not always lead to serious consequences and a decrease in the quality of life. A striking example is the story that was published in April this year by scientists from the University of Oregon Medical School (USA). American Rose Marie Bentley died in October 2017, and her family bequeathed her body to a local university. The students who dissected the corpse were very surprised: the internal organs were mirrored. The heart was where it should be, on the left, but the vessels were twisted around it differently. This is an even rarer occurrence. If this happens, the fetus develops incorrectly, the baby has early heart problems. On average, one child in 50 million survives with such an anomaly, according to a university press release. Why Rose Marie Bentley survived remains a mystery. She probably knew about her condition. According to relatives, her appendix, uterus and spleen were removed. Most likely, the surgeon spoke about the abnormal arrangement of the organs, but it hardly bothered her. The woman was physically healthy most of her life and died at 99 years.

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Russia Today genetics

MOSCOW, October 29 — RIA Novosti, Tatyana Pichugina. When examining a 52-year-old Indian citizen who was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia, doctors revealed a rare anomaly – a mirror arrangement of internal organs that accompanied Sievert-Kartagener syndrome, ANI reports. This is the result of a congenital malfunction of tiny cellular cilia.

The cilia know where left and right are

Externally, the human body is symmetrical: we have two arms, two legs, a pair of eyes and ears separated by a conditional vertical axis of symmetry. Internally, however, this rule is broken. The heart is one and located on the left, the liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas are also in a single copy – to the right of the stomach. There are a pair of kidneys, as well as lungs, but the right lung has a horizontal groove, while the left does not.

The asymmetry of internal organs is laid at an early stage of embryonic development, when cilia play a key role – microscopic cilia on the surface of almost every cell type. They are sensitive to chemical signals: hormones, growth factors. One cell has one cilium.

If the cilia do not work properly, severe pathologies occur. One of them is the Sievert-Kartagener syndrome, in which a person experiences problems with the nasopharynx and breathing. In a quarter of these patients, a mirror arrangement of internal organs, or situs inversus, is detected.

This phenomenon was already known in the middle of the 17th century, and a scientific description was given in 1904 by the Russian doctor Alexander von Sievert and three decades later by the Swiss Manes Kartagener. This inherited genetic disease occurs in one in 22,000 newborns. Although many cases, as suggests researchers from Melbourne (Australia), may not be known.

They tell the story of a nine-year-old girl who was brought to the Royal Children’s Hospital. The child choked on a piece of raw carrot, coughed for several minutes. The coughing fits did not go away, and it was decided to take her to the doctors. An x-ray showed inflammation in the left lung, darkening of the left bronchi, as well as a complete mirror arrangement of the internal organs.

An additional test showed that the patient had Sievert-Kartagener syndrome. It turned out that she was born healthy, but on the second day she began to have nasal discharge, she needed treatment, the girl suffered from otitis media and coughing fits, so she was diagnosed with asthma.

© Photo : Lancaster University Beginning of cell division and formation of cilia (bright blue) from the cell nucleus (pink) )

Pond snails help find genes

Situs inversus occurs with equal frequency in men and women, it is found in horses, pigs, cats and dogs, fish, rodents. The exact causes are unknown, although the mechanism has been broadly established. Two dozen genes responsible for the left-right asymmetry of internal organs during the development of the embryo have been identified.

For example, in May of this year, scientists from the Tokyo Research University reported that they had found a gene that determines the formation of left-right asymmetry in molluscs of the common pond snail species (Lymnaea stagnalis).

Using the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editor, scientists have created a line of snails with a disabled Lsdia1 gene. This section of DNA regulates the internal program of cells.

Knockout pond snails gave offspring with a very rare defect: their shells were twisted counterclockwise. The authors of the work believe that this will help to better understand the reasons for the complete mirror arrangement of the internal organs in humans.

Diet for memory. Russia will reveal the main secret of the brain

August 21, 2019, 08:00

Rose’s story

Situs inversus increases the risk of heart disease, but does not always lead to serious consequences and a decrease in quality of life. A vivid example is the story that was published in April of this year by scientists from the Oregon University Medical School (USA).

American Rose Marie Bentley died in October 2017, and her family bequeathed her body to a local university. The students who dissected the corpse were very surprised: the internal organs were mirrored.

The heart was where it should be, on the left, but the vessels were twisted around it differently. This is an even rarer occurrence. If this happens, the fetus develops incorrectly, the baby has early heart problems. On average, one child in 50 million survives with such an anomaly, says in a university press release.

Why Rose Marie Bentley survived remains a mystery. She probably knew about her condition. According to relatives, her appendix, uterus and spleen were removed. Most likely, the surgeon spoke about the abnormal arrangement of the organs, but it hardly bothered her. The woman was physically healthy most of her life and died at 99 years.

© Courtesy of OSHU Rose Marie Bentley’s speculum of internal organs, except for the heart

© Courtesy of OSHU

Rose Marie Bentley’s specular arrangement of internal organs, except for the heart

The doctor has diagnosed your child with congenital heart disease – For healthy lifestyle! – Articles

If your child has been diagnosed with congenital heart disease, you should not give up, you need to find out all the ways to maintain the health of such children, as well as the reasons for the development of this disease, undergo the necessary examination so that the doctor prescribes the appropriate treatment.
The human heart consists of four chambers: the right atrium (RA) and the right ventricle (RV), the left atrium (LA) and the left ventricle (LV). The right and left parts of the heart do not communicate with each other. This is not necessary, since they ensure the movement of blood, each in its own circle. The left side of the heart is responsible for the movement of blood through the systemic circulation. From the left atrium, oxygen-rich blood enters the aorta (Ao) through the left ventricle. From the aorta through numerous arteries, and then through the capillaries, it spreads throughout the body, delivering oxygen to the cells. In turn, the venous blood “wasted” by the body is collected in small veins, which merge into larger venous vessels – the superior and inferior vena cava (SVC and IVC). The end point of the journey of venous blood is the right atrium. From there, blood enters the pulmonary artery (LA) through the right ventricle. The pulmonary circulation passes through the lungs, where the venous blood is enriched with oxygen and becomes arterial again. The outflow of renewed blood is carried out through the pulmonary veins (PV), which, in turn, flow into the left atrium.

Features of the blood circulation in the fetus and newborn

While in the womb, the fetus does not breathe on its own and its lungs do not function. Blood circulation is carried out through the placenta. The mother’s oxygenated blood enters the fetus through the umbilical cord: into the venous duct, from where through the vascular system into the right atrium. The fetus has an opening between the right and left atrium, the foramen ovale. Through it, blood enters the left atrium, then into the left ventricle, the aorta – and to all organs of the fetus. The pulmonary circulation is disabled. Blood enters the lungs of the fetus through the ductus arteriosus, the connection between the aorta and the pulmonary artery. The ductus venosus, foramen ovale, and ductus arteriosus are present only in the fetus. They are called “fetal messages”. When a baby is born and the umbilical cord is tied off, the circulation pattern changes radically. With the first breath of the child, his lungs straighten out, the pressure in the vessels of the lungs decreases, blood flows into the lungs. The small circle of blood circulation begins to function. Fetal connections are no longer needed by the baby and gradually close (ductus venosus within the first month, ductus arteriosus and foramen ovale after two to three months). In some cases, timely closure does not occur, then the child is diagnosed with congenital heart disease (CHD). Sometimes, during the development of the fetus, an anomaly occurs and the child is born with anatomically altered structures of the heart, which is also considered a congenital heart disease. Of 1000 children with congenital defects, 8-10 are born, and this figure has been increasing in recent years (the development and improvement of diagnostics allows doctors to more often and more accurately recognize heart defects, including when the child is still in the womb).

“Blue” and “pale” heart defects

Anomalies can be very diverse, the most common have names and are combined into groups. For example, defects are divided into “blue” (in which the child’s skin is bluish, “cyanotic”) and “pale” (skin is pale). For the life and development of the child, “blue” defects are more dangerous, in which blood oxygen saturation is very low. The “blue” defects include Tetralogy of Fallot, transposition of the great vessels, pulmonary atresia. The “pale” defects include defects of the septa – interatrial, interventricular. In some cases, the defect can be partially compensated by an open ductus arteriosus (normally, it closes as soon as the child’s lungs straighten out with the first cry). Also, the child may underdevelop the heart valve – a valvular defect (most often, the aortic valve or pulmonic valve) will form.

Causes of congenital heart disease

In the fetus, the formation of heart structures occurs in the first trimester, at 2-8 weeks of pregnancy. During this period, defects develop that are the result of hereditary genetic causes or exposure to adverse external factors (for example, infection or poisoning). Sometimes a child has several malformations, including heart disease. The risk of having a child with a congenital heart defect is very high if:

– the woman previously had miscarriages or stillbirths

– the woman’s age is over 35 years

– the woman takes alcohol, psychoactive substances (drugs), smokes during pregnancy

– the woman’s family has a history of birth of children with defects or stillbirth

– a woman lives in an ecologically unfavorable area (radiation, toxic substances)
or works in an environmentally unfriendly production

– during pregnancy (especially the first 2 months) a woman suffered from infectious, viral diseases

– the woman took medication during pregnancy
teratogenic (causing fetal malformations) or
endocrine preparations to maintain pregnancy (hormones).

Is it possible to diagnose congenital heart disease in the fetus?

It is possible to detect congenital heart disease in a fetus, although it cannot be called absolutely informative. This depends on many reasons, the main of which is the availability of high-quality equipment and a qualified specialist with experience in perinatal diagnostics. Diagnosis is possible starting from the 14th week of pregnancy. If a developmental anomaly is detected in the fetus during examination, parents are informed about the severity of pathological changes, treatment options, and how viable the child will be. A woman may decide to terminate the pregnancy. If there is hope for a successful delivery and treatment, the woman is observed by a specialist, the birth is taken in a specialized maternity hospital (most often a caesarean section is offered to a woman).

Congenital heart disease in newborns

When a baby is born or during the first days of life, doctors may suspect congenital heart disease.
On what do they base their assumptions?

– Noise in the heart. In the first few days of a child’s life, a heart murmur cannot be regarded as a reliable symptom of congenital heart disease. Such a child is observed, if the noise persists for more than 4-5 days, they are examined. The very appearance of a heart murmur is explained by a violation of blood flow through the vessels and cavities of the heart (for example, in the presence of abnormal constrictions, holes, a sharp change in the direction of blood flow).

– cyanosis of the skin (cyanosis). Normally, arterial blood is rich in oxygen and gives the skin a pink color. When arterial blood is mixed with oxygen-poor venous blood (which normally does not occur), the skin acquires a bluish tint. Depending on the type of defect, cyanosis can be of varying severity. However, doctors have to clarify the causes of cyanosis, as it can be a symptom of diseases of the respiratory system and the central nervous system.

– manifestations of heart failure. The heart pumps blood, working like a pump. When the pumping capacity of the heart decreases, the blood begins to stagnate in the venous bed, the supply of organs with arterial blood decreases. Heart contractions and breathing become more frequent, there is an increase in the liver and swelling, fatigue and shortness of breath. Unfortunately, these signs are very difficult to recognize in newborns. A high heart rate and respiration rate is observed in young children in a normal state. Only with significant deviations can we speak with sufficient confidence about the development of heart failure in the baby. Often a consequence of the development of heart failure is a spasm of peripheral vessels, which is manifested by cold extremities and the tip of the nose, their blanching. These signs help to indirectly judge heart failure.

– violations of the electrical function of the heart (heart rhythm and conduction), manifested by arrhythmias and, sometimes, loss of consciousness. The doctor may hear an uneven heartbeat during auscultation (listening with a phonendoscope) or see it on an electrocardiogram recording.

How can parents themselves suspect a child has a congenital heart disease?

If a heart defect leads to serious disturbances of hemodynamics (blood flow), as a rule, it is diagnosed already in the maternity hospital. In the absence of severe manifestations, the child can be discharged home. Parents may notice that the baby is lethargic, sucks poorly and often burps, turns blue during feeding and when crying. Severe tachycardia (heart rate above 150 beats per minute) may occur. In this case, it is necessary to report the complaints to the pediatrician and undergo special examinations.

Confirmation of the diagnosis of congenital heart disease

Echocardiography is currently the most accessible, simple, painless for a child and highly informative method for diagnosing heart defects. During the study using an ultrasound sensor, the doctor sees the wall thickness, the size of the chambers of the heart, the state of the valvular system and the location of large vessels. The Doppler sensor allows you to see the direction of blood flow and measure its speed. During the study, you can take pictures confirming the conclusion of a specialist. Also, the child will be required to record an electrocardiogram. If a more accurate study is needed (usually to determine the tactics of surgical treatment of the defect), the doctor will recommend heart sounding. This is an invasive technique, for which the child is hospitalized in a hospital. Probing is performed by an X-ray surgeon in an X-ray operating room, in the presence of an anesthesiologist, under intravenous anesthesia. Through a puncture in a vein or artery, special catheters are inserted into the heart and great vessels, allowing you to accurately measure the pressure in the cavities of the heart, aorta, and pulmonary artery. The introduction of a special x-ray contrast agent allows you to get an accurate image of the internal structure of the heart and large vessels (see figure).

Diagnosis is not a sentence. Treatment of CHD (congenital heart disease)

Modern medicine allows not only timely diagnosis, but also the treatment of congenital heart defects. CHD is treated by cardiac surgeons. If a defect is detected, accompanied by a serious violation of hemodynamics, affecting the development of the child and threatening the life of the baby, the operation is performed as early as possible, sometimes in the first days of the child’s life. With defects that do not significantly affect the growth and development of the child, the operation can be performed later. The timing of the operation is determined by the surgeon. If a child was recommended surgery and it failed to be performed in a timely manner (often due to parental refusal, misunderstanding of the seriousness of the problem), the child may begin a pathological change in hemodynamics, leading to the development and progression of heart failure. At a certain stage, the changes become irreversible, the operation will no longer help. Be attentive to the advice and recommendations of doctors, do not deprive your child of the opportunity to grow and develop, not to be disabled for life!

Congenital heart surgery

For many years, congenital heart surgery was performed only on the open heart, using a heart-lung machine (ABC) that takes over the functions of the heart during cardiac arrest. Today, with some defects of such an operation, there is an alternative – the elimination of a defect in the structures of the heart using the AMPLATZER system.