Grown Up With a Heart Condition: Why Adults With Congenital Heart Disease Need Specialist Follow-Up

A female patient had heart surgery at the age of three in a hospital on another continent and was told afterwards that everything had been fixed Thirty years later living and working in Dubai she starts to feel her heart racing on the stairs It is a common story and it explains why a whole branch of cardiology now exists for adults who were born with heart defectsA Success Story With a CatchCongenital heart disease a structural problem present from birth affects roughly one baby in every hundred A few decades ago many of those children did not reach adulthood Today thanks to better surgery and care the large majority doThe catch is that repair is not the same as cure A heart that has been operated on in childhood still has its own anatomy scar tissue and wiring and it can develop new problems decades later Many young adults drift out of followup once they leave paediatric care often because they feel well That gap is where preventable problems startConditions Seen in Adult ClinicsThe spectrum is wide At the simpler end are holes between the hearts chambers known as atrial or ventricular septal defects and a bicuspid aortic valve which has two leaflets instead of threeAt the complex end are conditions such as tetralogy of Fallot a combination of four defects that lowers oxygen in the blood or transposition of the great arteries where the two main arteries leave the heart the wrong way round which usually require major surgery in childhood Coarctation a narrowing of the aorta sits in between and can leave people with high blood pressure for lifeWhat Problems can Develop in AdulthoodLate problems tend to fall into a few groups Heart rhythm disturbances are common particularly around old surgical scars and may show up as palpitations or dizziness Valves repaired in childhood can leak or narrow over time Some patients develop heart failure or raised pressure in the lungs There is also a higher risk of endocarditis an infection of the heart lining which is why dental hygiene and prompt treatment of infections matterCrucially many of these changes happen before symptoms appear The heart is good at compensating so regular monitoring is the only reliable way to catch them earlyWhat Followup InvolvesRoutine review usually includes an ECG an echocardiogram and for more complex anatomy cardiac MRI which shows blood flow and chamber size in detail without radiation Holter monitoring exercise testing and blood tests are added as needed How often you are seen depends on the complexity of your condition from every few years to every few monthsLifestyle advice is individual too Most people with congenital heart disease can work travel and exercise normally but some conditions call for limits on very intense or competitive sport Longhaul flights home are usually fine though it is worth asking before booking Your cardiologist at the top cardiology hospital in Dubai should give you specific guidance rather than blanket restrictionsPregnancy Deserves Early PlanningFor many women with congenital heart disease pregnancy is entirely possible It does however place extra demands on the heart and the level of risk varies hugely between conditions The right time to discuss it is before conception with a cardiologist and an obstetric team who will work together throughoutAdvice for Expatriate PatientsDubais population means many adults were operated on abroad sometimes in another language Track down the operation notes and discharge letters if you can knowing exactly what was done in childhood shapes every decision now Bring any previous scans or reports to your first appointmentFinding the Right ServiceType congenital cardiology hospital Dubai into a search engine and you will find several options Whether you are assessing a specialist clinic ask whether it offers detailed cardiac imaging rhythm assessment catheterbased treatment and joint care with obstetricians and whether it will coordinate your paediatric history rather than starting from scratchWhich Dubai Hospitals Offer Adult Congenital CardiologyAmong them is Aster Hospitals which operates in Dubai from sites that include Jebel Ali Aster Cedars Hospital Mankhool Al Qusais and Muhaisnah Its adult congenital cardiology service manages conditions from septal defects to complex repaired anatomyAssessment uses cardiac MRI and 3D echocardiography rhythm problems are handled by electrophysiology heart rhythm specialists and some repairs that once needed open surgery are done by catheter Pregnancy is planned jointly with the hospitals maternity teamIf you had heart surgery as a child and have not seen a cardiologist in years that appointment is worth booking even if you feel perfectly wellDisclaimer MidDay holds no responsibility or liability for any direct indirect implied punitive special incidental or consequential damages resulting directly or indirectly from the use of this content It is advisable to seek guidance from an expert advisor or health professional as the information on the site is not a substitute for professional medical advice diagnosis or treatment The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease and individuals seeking personal medical advice should consult with a licensed physician The views and opinions expressed are those of the sponsorauthoragency and do not represent the stance or views of MidDay Any purchases made from the branded segment are at your own discretion and risk

Grown Up With a Heart Condition: Why Adults With Congenital Heart Disease Need Specialist Follow-Up

A Success Story With a Catch

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Grown Up With a Heart Condition: Why Adults With Congenital Heart Disease Need Specialist Follow-Up

A Success Story With a Catch

Other Articles

Mid-Day Fast