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Cardiology | by Dr. Dhiman Kahali | Published on 30/11/2023
Is your child suffering from symptoms like heart murmur or shortness of breath? If so, then it might suggest conditions like a hole in the heart also known as a septal defect. It is fairly a common condition. It is essential to understand that it might or may not cause symptoms or need treatment. Most holes in the heart go overlooked as a small-sized hole closes on its own.
If you are apprehensive about the condition, consulting a doctor is vital to properly evaluate and diagnose the problem.
You can get in touch with a cardiac hospital, BM Birla Heart Research Centre in Kolkata. You will find highly skilled and talented cardiologists and other healthcare professionals here.
In this blog, we will include a comprehensive discussion about holes in the heart involving its symptoms, causes, and treatment options.
Kindly note that it is research-based information and we do not in any way encourage overlooking the doctor’s consultation.
A hole in the heart, also known as ventricular septal defect is a condition that is present at birth. This is also termed a congenital heart defect. It occurs between the heart’s lower chambers i.e. right and left ventricles. It permits the blood that is rich in oxygen to keep moving back into the lungs rather than pumping it throughout the body.
A hole in the heart entirely alters the way blood flows through the lungs and the heart. The blood begins pumping back to the lungs rather than out of the body. Rich oxygen blood gets mixed with poor blood. These shifts lead to increasing the blood pressure in the lungs and the heart has to work harder to pump blood.
A small hole in the heart doesn't usually cause serious issues and closes on its own. However, for babies with a large hole in the heart, surgery is the only approach to avert complications.
Hole in the heart symptoms usually develop in the initial weeks, days, or months of a baby’s life, if present at birth. Symptoms often depend on the hole size and if there are any heart issues. Small hole doesn’t cause any symptoms, but medium or large hole cause the following symptoms:
A hole in the heart symptoms in adults is also similar:
The exact cause of a hole in the heart is not known but experts have identified some factors contributing to the development of this congenital heart defect. Here are these factors:
The condition known as a hole in the heart is typically identified in children at the initial stage, however, future diagnosis is challenging. A stethoscope can be used by a physician to listen for the heart murmur, often known as the heart sound. The constricted valve's choppy blood flow is the cause of the sound.
The following tests have been prescribed by medical professionals:
The treatment for a hole in the heart varies depending on factors like defect location, size, the patient’s age, and overall well-being. Doctors recommend consulting a cardiologist to identify the right course of action. However, here is the most common treatment usually involved in treating a heart hole:
A hole in the heart or ventricular septal defect is a condition that needs proper medical intervention and personalized treatment. While small holes in the heart close on their own, some moderate to large holes require surgical repair or catheter-based procedures. Consulting a cardiologist on time is vital for a comprehensive evaluation and determining the right treatment for the patient depending on their symptoms. With continuous advancement in the medical field, it ensures that people suffering from heart defects receive the most efficient care.
One of the most common causes of a hole in the heart in adults is damage to the heart muscle leading to a serious heart attack.
People with a small-sized hole in the heart can live up to 80 years or longer, while a moderate to large-sized hole might require surgical repair.
It is not proven yet whether a heart murmur is hereditary or not, but a genetic link is identified.
