The heart can be said to be the most important organ in our body. The heart functions to pump blood from within the heart which is distributed to all parts of the body including the brain, nose, eyes, neck, spine, legs, knees and other body parts which then return to the heart. With this work the heart continues to pump blood every second, minute, hour and it will not stop, except when we breathe our last.
By knowing the work of the heart in the human body, of course this is our duty to always protect it heart health in order to stay healthy and be able to function properly as it should. Of course, the heart needs good nutrition so that it can work normally. Even though the heart never asks to stop even for one hour, we ought to have the right to take care of the heart very well. However, the heart is very important during our lifetime. If the heart stops, our life on earth will also stop.
We often encounter various heart diseases in humans, including newborns. Heart disease has various types, of course, with different names, causes and symptoms. One of the most common heart diseases, especially in newborns, is a leaky heart. Heart leaks in newborns are very common lately.
Leaking Heart in Babies
Based on data from the National Heart Center, our hope is that there are around 1,000 births scattered in several places, 6 – 7 cases of births with leaky heart in newborns. This figure is detected in newborns, excluding babies who have had a sufficient age of around two weeks or 2 months.> Because in general, a leaky heart in babies can be detected when the baby is two weeks to two months old. This is because, in newborns, they still have a fairly good immune system. However, after two weeks or more, then a baby will develop symptoms of abnormalities in the heart. Like what are the symptoms of a leaky heart in babies, of course we will present them in the next point. Also Read: How to Avoid Toxoplasma from Cats While Pregnant
A leaky heart in a baby causes unwanted things such as death. Of course, a baby who dies is a very sad thing for every parent who craves the presence of a baby in his life. In general, a leaky heart in a baby will cause death before the baby is 1 year old, and in some cases, the baby died at the age of two weeks. Some cases of leaky heart in babies, there are around 800-900 cases per year, babies who survive through leaky heart surgery with a note of taking regular medication and consultation with heart specialists to see the development of the heart in babies.
Leaking Heart in Babies in the Womb
A leaky heart in a baby in the womb can be called congenital heart disease. The reason is, the heart leak in the baby in this case occurs when the baby is still in the womb. Of course, the blood flow in a baby in the womb is different from that of a baby already born. In the unborn baby, blood flows through the arteries in the umbilicus to the placenta. In the placenta, the blood will absorb the mother’s blood so that it releases the rest of the combustion and takes food and oxygen in the mother’s blood. From inside the placenta, blood will flow through the vein of the umbilical cord (vein umbilicais) to the liver for processing. However, because the liver has not functioned properly in processing the food content of the mother and the leftovers have been processed in the mother’s heart first, the blood is immediately flowed to the right porch of the baby’s heart.
Some of the blood flows to the lungs and to the right ventricle of the baby’s heart, but the other part flows to the left atrium through an opening in the baby. In that hole, what is called the foramen ovale is really needed for the purposes of draining blood to the left atrium. However, in normal babies, the hole will close again soon after the baby is born. However, when the hole is not closed, this failure is known as a leaky heart defect in infants. See also: Recognize PCOS Hormonal Disorders in Women, Symptoms and Causes
Causes of Leaking Heart in Babies
In fact, most of the congenital heart disease or heart leak in newborns is not certain the cause. However, there are several triggering factors that can cause leaky heart defects in babies. Here are some of the causes of a leaky heart in babies:
Genetic factors
This first factor does occur when the baby is still in the womb. Genetic factors or chromosomal abnormalities when the fetus is in the process of fertilization and development in the womb are the main factors causing heart leakage in babies. Of course, the process of growth and development in babies determines whether the baby is healthy or not at birth. Of course, some children who have genetic disorders such as Down’s syndrome may have congenital heart defects.
Heredity
Heredity also has a role as a cause of heart leakage in babies. Heredity is closely related to the causes of heart defects in babies. For example, if a parent has a history of heart defects or a leaky heart, it is more likely that this abnormality will arise than a healthy parent.
Virus Infection
This virus is a very dangerous virus, especially for pregnant women. Viruses with the acronym TORCH (Toxo, Rubella, CMV and Herpes) are susceptible to infecting pregnant women. Indeed, this disease has settled in a mother when she is not pregnant. However, after being pregnant until giving birth, there are symptoms that start to become serious in pregnancy such as miscarriage, pregnancy, the fetus dies in the womb, and even causes a leaky heart in the baby after they are born.
Generally, this virus comes from food and animals that are around us, such as birds, cats, chickens, mice, camels, pigs, dogs, pigeons and other poultry that are spread through their feces or body parts. So, if you have pets, take care of cleanliness and keep the feces away from around the house, if necessary, check with the vet for checks.
Lifestyle
Pregnant women, of course, have to have a lifestyle that is different from what they were before pregnancy. The reason is, a pregnant mother is bringing someone who will become a baby. So, keeping your pregnancy healthy with nutritious food intakes is a must for every pregnant woman.
It is very important to avoid bad habits such as smoking or consuming alcohol when you are not pregnant.
Nutritional intake during pregnancy will determine the growth and development of the fetus in your womb. Consumption of foods rich in folic acid to help the development of the brain and organs in the fetus.
Radiation
Radiation exposure, especially from cellphones, is one of the causes of heart leakage in babies. For example, radiation generated from cell phones can affect the growth and development of the baby’s fetus, especially important organs such as the heart and other organs. The negative effects of cell phone radiation include causing memory or memory problems in infants, behavioral disorders in babies after birth and causing abnormalities in the heart. Pregnant women should keep the cell phone, especially in the stomach area and pocket in the stomach. Without being based, even putting the cellphone on the stomach while sleeping. Pregnant women are better off not holding the cellphone too often to avoid these risks.
Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals
Chemical substances here refer to all things made from dangerous and poisonous chemicals. These chemicals are commonly found in cosmetics, cleaning fluids and nicotine in cigarettes. When pregnant women are pregnant, you should avoid cigarette smoke, use of harmful cosmetics and cleaning fluids with dangerous chemicals and strong odors.
Drug Effects
We recommend that if you feel unwell, pregnant women should take medicines recommended by a midwife or doctor. Do not just take any medicine in the shop without the recommended prescription.
Some of the causes of leaking heart in babies above are common causes in some cases. However, there are also several cases of the cause of a leaky heart in babies whose cause is unknown until now. But scientists will continue to try to find out other causes of leaky heart in babies.
Symptoms and Characteristics of Leaking Heart in Babies
After we know the causes of a leaky heart in babies, we will now turn to the point where to recognize the symptoms and characteristics of a baby who has a heart leak. In general, newborns do not show significant symptoms, but after two weeks or two months of age these symptoms appear. Be alert if the following symptoms are present in your baby. The following are the symptoms and characteristics of leaking heart in babies:
- The heart rate in babies is very fast, especially when we touch the left chest.
- Babies look very tired when doing strenuous activities such as breastfeeding, crying and breathing. When doing these activities, the baby’s entire body will look bluish as if he was cold.
- When a baby is fussy and doesn’t want to breastfeed, it means that something is going on with a baby. Generally, babies will cry and cough when given breast milk and eventually the baby is reluctant to breastfeed.
- The amount of hemoglobin in high babies is more than 20, which in normal circumstances amounts to 14.
- The baby’s body, nails, tongue, and lips look bluish, this is caused by dirty blood circulating in the body and entering other important organs, especially the brain, resulting in death.
- If the child is 6 months old, it is difficult to eat and has decreased appetite and weight tends to decrease.
- In general, people with leaky heart tend to have a small body and do not experience growth according to their age.
- A leaky heart causes the baby to have difficulty breathing and feel short of breath.
- There is a buildup of fluid in the lungs and a buildup of blood.
- Swelling of the ankles, legs, and neck veins.
Leaking Heart Treatment
Although it is considered a dangerous disease disorder, the cause of a leaky heart in babies can be overcome by doing alternative treatments that are expected to treat leaking heart in babies.
In general, a heart leak in babies can be performed surgically after turning 1 year of age if the baby has a large VSD.
Some of the common leaking heart treatments:
Medication for Leaking ASD Hearts
The medication cannot close the hole in the heart that is leaking, but it can reduce the risk of complications after surgery. Medicines used to keep the heart rate in check and reduce the risk of blood clots, such as beta blockers and anticoagulants.
Cure for VSD Heart Leaks
Drugs such as digoxin can increase the strength of heart contractions, the drug furosemide (Lasix) can reduce the amount of fluid in the lungs and beta blockers and digoxin drugs can keep the heart regular.
This is the cause of a leaky heart in babies, complete with symptoms and treatment methods. It is hoped that this article can help you to find out the symptoms if they occur in your baby. Be alert if your baby shows the symptoms mentioned above. Keep your heart and your family healthy. Hope it is useful!
