|
For many of
us, February is a month we associate with valentines, candy
hearts, and heart-shaped treats. Although February is American
Heart Month, if we do stop to think about the health of our
hearts, most parents probably aren’t thinking about the health
of our children’s hearts.
But according to the American Heart Association (AHA), each year
36,000 children in the United States are born with a heart
defect. Thousands of others develop some type of heart disease
as the result of viral or bacterial infections. And for untold
numbers of other children, their lifestyles may be establishing
habits that will lead to problems like high blood pressure and
coronary artery disease as they grow older.
According to
Beth Nauert, M.D.,
a
pediatrician with The Austin
Diagnostic Clinic, most children’s heart problems will be
diagnosed before birth.
“We see a lot of babies after their obstetrician has diagnosed
something on an ultrasound,” says Dr. Nauert. “A lot of parents
will even consult with a pediatric cardiologist before their
baby is born.”
For young children, heart problems are either congenital or
acquired. A congenital problem is present at birth. According to
the AHA, congenital heart defects are structural problems caused
by abnormal formation of the heart or major blood vessels.
Acquired heart problems are typically caused by rheumatic heart
disease but can also stem from Kawasaki disease. Rheumatic heart
disease, or rheumatic fever, results from bacterial infections.
In Kawasaki disease, inflamed blood vessels cause damage to the
heart.
According to Dr. Nauert, rheumatic fever is no longer as common
as it once was.
“We don’t see rheumatic fever as much as in the past. It is
caused by a strep infection. Today, most strep infections are
treated with antibiotics and are less likely to progress to
rheumatic fever,” she says.
In cases where congenital heart problems are not diagnosed
before birth, signs of a possible congenital defect will include
bluish skin color, low blood pressure, breathing difficulties,
and poor weight gain. These problems are usually evident in the
first few months after birth.
But some problems, such as an irregular heartbeat called heart
arrhythmia, may not appear for several years.
“Arrhythmias aren’t extremely common in a general pediatric
practice,” says Dr. Nauert. “But when children do have them
children may say things like, ‘my heart is jumping,’ or ‘my
heart hurts.’”
Children will usually be more aware of a tachycardia—the medical
term for a rapid heart rate—more than a slow heart rate. “A lot
of the time, a fast heart rate will be uncomfortable to kids,”
explains Dr. Nauert.
Dr. Karen Wright, M.D., of the Children’s Cardiology Associates
in Austin, says treatment for heart arrhythmias in children has
changed dramatically in recent years, with new techniques making
many types of the condition curable.
One such procedure involves inserting a special catheter into
the heart that allows doctors to see precisely which heart
tissue is causing the abnormal heartbeat. The tissue responsible
for the arrhythmia is then destroyed using radiofrequency energy
to zap the faulty tissue. Another way to remove the heart tissue
is called cryoablation, which uses extreme cold, Dr. Wright
explains.
Dr. Nauert cautions that while children may complain of chest
pain, chest pain in children is usually not caused by a heart
problem.
“Mostly it’s going to be something musculoskeletal,” she says.
“The joint between the breastbone and the rib can get inflamed
and be very painful or a child could have strained a muscle
through normal activity or play.”
When children do complain of chest pain, Dr. Nauert says it’s
important to rule out heart problems and understand the child’s
family history. Symptoms that parents should not ignore include
chest pain during exercise and fainting.
“If you have a family history of someone with a significant
cardiac event like a stroke, an aneurysm or a heart attack
before the age of 55, that increases your individual risk of
heart disease,” Dr. Nauert says. “We always want to know about
the cardiac history in families. We can’t control our family
history, but we can control the risk factors that contribute to
that.”
For many children, controlling their risk factors means starting
to protect their heart’s health at any early age.
“We talk to kids about diet, exercise, and smoking because those
are the things that they have control over,” explains Dr.
Nauert. “It’s important for children to exercise from the very
beginning.” Since physical activity can be a key to long-term
health, parents should limit the amount of time that children
spend at the computer or watching TV. If you have a child who is
not interested in athletics, the AHA recommends finding ways to
encourage other activities like walking or dancing.
To further protect children’s future heart health, Dr. Nauert
emphasizes that “we want them to be eating a healthy diet and
controlling their weight. That means getting five daily servings
of fruits and vegetables along with their daily requirements for
calcium and iron.”
Obesity has become a huge problem for people of all ages in the
United States, particularly children, and numerous studies have
shown a link between being overweight and an increased risk for
heart disease.
Dr. Wright says parents can lend a supporting hand in the fight
against obesity and heart problems by teaching their children
about healthy eating, the importance of exercise, and not
smoking.
“It’s one of the most important things parents can do,” she
says.
Weight control also means controlling portion sizes to prevent
over-eating. If a child is a picky eater, you can often get them
to try new foods if you get the involved in preparing the foods.
“If parents will work with their children to help them eat a
healthier diet and keep them active, it can help prevent future
heart problems,” Dr. Nauert maintains.
|
