HEART DEFECT Meaning and
Definition
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A heart defect, also known as a congenital heart defect (CHD), is a structural abnormality in the heart's development present at birth. It refers to any anomaly that affects the heart's structure, function, or blood vessels. The defect can occur due to various factors, such as genetic causes, environmental influences, or a combination of both.
Heart defects can vary in severity and manifest in different ways. Some individuals may have minor heart defects that do not significantly interfere with their daily lives, while others may experience life-threatening complications requiring immediate medical attention. Common types of heart defects include holes in the heart walls (such as atrial septal defects or ventricular septal defects), valve abnormalities, narrowing or obstruction of blood vessels (such as coarctation of the aorta or pulmonary stenosis), and abnormal heart structures, among others.
The symptoms and implications of a heart defect vary depending on the specific abnormality. Some common signs may include shortness of breath, fatigue, cyanosis (bluish tint to the skin), poor weight gain in infants, and recurring respiratory infections. Medical professionals specializing in pediatric cardiology often diagnose heart defects through physical examinations, imaging tests (such as echocardiograms), and other diagnostic procedures.
Treatment for heart defects may include medication, lifestyle changes, surgical interventions, or a combination of these. Many individuals with heart defects can lead normal lives with proper management, while others may require ongoing medical care and interventions. With advancements in medical technology and surgical techniques, outcomes for individuals with heart defects have significantly improved over the years, allowing for better quality of life and increased life expectancy.
Common Misspellings for HEART DEFECT
- geart defect
- beart defect
- neart defect
- jeart defect
- ueart defect
- yeart defect
- hwart defect
- hsart defect
- hdart defect
- hrart defect
- h4art defect
- h3art defect
- hezrt defect
- hesrt defect
- hewrt defect
- heqrt defect
- heaet defect
- headt defect
- heaft defect
- heatt defect
Etymology of HEART DEFECT
The word heart has its origins in the Old English word heorte, which can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word *khertan. It ultimately derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *kerd, meaning heart. The word defect comes from the Latin word defectus, which means a failure, lack, or imperfection. In the context of heart defect, it refers to an abnormality or imperfection in the structure or function of the heart. Therefore, the etymology of heart defect combines the ancient Proto-Indo-European root for heart with the Latin word for imperfection or failure.
