Do you sometimes feel a little tightness in your chest, difficulty breathing, or just tiredness? Behind these things, there may be some change or weakness in the structure of the heart, that is, the shape of the heart, the walls, the valves, or the muscles. Today we are talking about some problems in the structure of the heart, which doctors call `(Structural Heart Disease)`. This can be something that is born with, or it can develop later with age. If not treated properly, other health problems can also arise over time.
So what is this structural heart disease?
Simply put, `(Structural Heart Disease)` means that there is some abnormality in the structure of your heart, that is, the shape of the heart, its walls, chambers, valves, or heart muscle. This is a very broad topic. Imagine, if the walls, doors, and windows of our house are not in order, that house will not function properly. The same is true of the heart.
What are these types of heart structural diseases?
We can divide these situations into three main categories. Think about it, our heart is an amazing organ. It has different parts, all of which need to work properly.
- Heart valve disease: Did you know that our heart has four valves? These are like doors that control the flow of blood - they only allow blood to flow in one direction. So, if there is a problem with these valves, for example, a valve that does not open properly (stenosis) or a valve that does not close properly (valvular regurgitation), that is called heart valve disease.
- Cardiomyopathy: This is when the heart muscle weakens, thickens, or becomes enlarged. When this happens, the heart cannot pump blood properly. Think of it like a water pump failing to pump water.
- Congenital heart disease: These are structural defects of the heart that are present at birth. Some babies may be born with a hole in the heart or a valve problem. These are called congenital heart disease.
Who can develop this heart structural disease?
In fact, this condition called ``Structural Heart Disease'' can develop in anyone, regardless of gender, race, or age. However, certain factors may increase the risk.
- Family history: If someone in your family has this type of heart disease, you may be at a higher risk of developing it too.
- Factors affecting the mother during pregnancy: Sometimes, certain things that happen to the mother while the baby is in the womb can cause congenital heart disease in the baby. For example:
- Exposure of the mother to things like industrial solvents during pregnancy.
- The mother develops a disease like ``Rubella`` during the first three months of pregnancy.
- Using certain medications without medical advice, drinking alcohol.
- Occurrence of some viral infections.
- Aging: As we age, calcium can build up in areas like the heart valves. This can also lead to heart disease. In fact, more than 10% of people over the age of 75 have some form of ``Structural Heart Disease''.
How common are these conditions?
Heart valve disease is the most common of these. In the United States alone, about 2.5% of the population has this condition. It can be caused by either stenosis or valvular regurgitation. Mitral valve regurgitation and aortic valve stenosis are the most common.
Congenital heart conditions are the most common birth defects in the United States. About 1% of babies born each year, or about 40,000 babies, have this condition.
Cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease) affects about 1 in 500 people in the United States. There are many causes for this, including coronary artery disease, the effects of viral infections, environmental factors like alcohol, and genetic factors.
How do structural heart diseases affect my body?
Think of it like the engine of our body. It pumps blood throughout the body. It is with the blood that our cells receive the oxygen and nutrients they need, and the blood also removes waste products from the cells. So, if the heart cannot pump blood properly due to a problem with its structure, the other organs and tissues in our body do not receive enough blood. This can damage various organs, and other health problems and symptoms may arise.
What are the causes of these heart structural diseases?
There may be several reasons for this.
- Congenital: Sometimes, certain changes in our body's genes (DNA or genetics) can cause abnormalities in the development of the heart.
- Causes that occur later:
- Aging: This can cause calcium deposits in the heart valves.
- Alcohol or drug addiction.
- Aortic aneurysm.
- Autoimmune diseases, for example, lupus and rheumatic fever.
- Heart disease or heart attack (Myocardial infarction).
- Diseases that damage the heart, examples: `(Amyloidosis)`, `(Hemochromatosis)`, `(Sarcoidosis)`.
- Infection of the inner lining of the heart (endocarditis).
- Endocrine gland diseases, examples: Diabetes and Thyroid disease.
- High blood pressure (Hypertension).
- Exposure to excessive radiation.
- Genetic conditions such as `Marfan syndrome`.
- Muscle-related diseases such as muscular dystrophy.
- Fatty deposits in the arteries (Atherosclerosis).
What are the symptoms of this disease?
It's amazing that some people with this ``Structural Heart Disease'' may not have any symptoms. However, as the disease progresses, you may see symptoms like:
- Chest pain, tightness, or pressure.
- Dizziness, feeling dizzy or fainting (Syncope).
- Feeling very tired (Fatigue).
- High blood pressure (Hypertension).
- Irregular heartbeat (Arrhythmia).
- Impaired kidney function.
- Difficulty breathing (Dyspnea).
- Swelling of the abdomen, ankles, or feet (Edema).
Important: If you have one or more of these symptoms, see a doctor immediately. These can also be caused by other medical conditions, so it's important to find the exact cause.
How is this disease diagnosed?
During pregnancy, doctors can check for any abnormalities in the baby's heart with a test called a ``fetal echocardiogram.'' This is a test that uses sound waves to take pictures of the baby's heart.
For children and adults, when your doctor listens to your heart with a stethoscope, they may hear an abnormal heart sound (heart murmur). If this happens, your doctor will refer you to a cardiologist. They may do tests like these:
- Cardiac catheterization: In this procedure, a small tube is inserted into the heart through an artery in the groin or arm to measure the pressure in the heart's chambers. It can also take clear pictures of the heart and blood vessels.
- Coronary angiogram: This is also done at the same time as cardiac catheterization. A special dye is injected into the blood vessels and an X-ray is used to see how blood flows through the heart, arteries, and valves.
- Echocardiogram (Echo): This is also a test that uses sound waves to create images of the heart's chambers and valves. It can show how the heart is pumping blood.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): This measures the electrical activity of the heart. You may have seen the test done by sticking stickers on your chest.
- Exercise stress test: In this test, you are asked to run or walk on a treadmill and your heart rate is monitored.
- Holter monitor: This is a small device that is worn on your body for 24 to 48 hours and records your heart's electrical activity while you go about your daily activities.
- Other imaging tests: Tests such as a chest X-ray, CT scan, or cardiac MRI can detect structural problems inside the chest.
Of these, the two tests most commonly used to diagnose Structural Heart Disease are the ECG and the Echocardiogram.
How is this disease treated?
Some types of `(Structural Heart Disease)` may not require any special treatment. However, you will need to continue to monitor your condition under the supervision of a doctor.
For other types, the doctor may recommend treatments like:
- Medication: Medications may be given to control symptoms, improve heart function, or prevent blood clots.
- Minimally invasive heart procedures: This involves inserting instruments through a few small holes, without making a large incision, to repair a defective valve or replace it with a new one.
- Open-heart surgery: In this, the surgeon opens the chest and accesses the heart to perform things like valve replacements, or sometimes a heart transplant.
How can I reduce my risk of developing this disease?
If you are pregnant, you can do these things to reduce the risk of your baby developing congenital heart disease:
- If you have a chronic illness like diabetes or a condition like epilepsy, talk to your doctor about the medication you should take.
- If you smoke, stop. Avoid using tobacco products.
- Stop drinking alcohol.
- If you use drugs for pleasure, stop using them completely.
- Take 400 micrograms of folate (folic acid) every day (it's best to take this before you get pregnant).
Follow these health habits to reduce your risk of developing heart valve disease and some types of heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy):
- Maintain a proper body weight.
- Eat a heart-healthy diet (low in oil, salt, and sugar, and high in fruits and vegetables).
- Exercise regularly.
- Limit alcohol consumption and do not use drugs for pleasure.
- If you have other health conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or thyroid disease, follow your doctor's advice and control them.
- Reduce stress.
If I have (Structural Heart Disease), what will my future be like?
This really depends on a few things:
- How long have you had this condition?
- Severity of the disease.
- What type of ``Structural Heart Disease'' do you have?
- Other health problems you have.
But don't worry! Many people with Structural Heart Disease live long, happy lives. However, you may be at slightly increased risk of heart infections. So talk to your doctor about taking antibiotics to prevent infections when you have dental procedures or other surgeries. This can reduce the risk of conditions like endocarditis.
I have (Structural Heart Disease), how do I take care of myself?
You can do these things to keep your heart healthy and reduce complications:
- Inform all doctors who treat you about your heart condition and the medications you are taking.
- If you're planning to get pregnant, talk to your doctors well in advance. They can assess your risks and help you find the best way to manage your condition during pregnancy.
- See a cardiologist regularly to monitor your condition. Never stop taking your prescribed medication or skip your doctor's appointments.
Finally, things to remember (Take-Home Message)
Structural Heart Disease is a problem with the structure of your heart, which means the shape, walls, valves, or muscles. It can be present at birth or develop later in life. The main types are cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease, and heart valve disease.
You may not need treatment, or your doctor may recommend medication or surgery. The most important thing is to follow a healthy lifestyle and regularly see a cardiologist. Then you too can live a happy, full life. If you have any further questions about this, don't hesitate to talk to your doctor.
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