Heart
disease is difficult enough when it strikes adults but it can be very much
tragic in children. Children can get affected with many different types of
heart problems such as congenital heart defects, viral infections that affect
the heart and even heart disease acquired later in childhood. Heart disease is
one of the factors which causes a heart attack or a cardiac arrest. Even
children can get struck with it. The best way to deal with cardiac emergencies
involving children is by going for a PALS class Memphis (Pediatric Advanced Life Support program has been designed
for healthcare providers), there are other CPR programs as well designed for
the general public like parents, teachers, etc where they will be able to learn
about the life-saving resuscitation techniques comprising of chest compressions
and rescue breaths which can enable in saving the life of a child involved in
the middle of a cardiac emergency.
For
training, always go for an acclaimed training site such as the AHA accredited
CPR Memphis in Tennessee where certified instructors conduct the classes
through a series of audio and video lectures and hands-on practice.
Who Should Take The PALS Training
Classes?
Pediatric
Advanced Life Support is a course that is required for most healthcare
professionals that work with the pediatric population.
Most
licensed PALS Providers work in:
·
Operating
rooms
·
Pediatric
Intensive Care Units
·
Emergency
Departments
·
Specialized
Pediatric Departments
·
Pediatric
Facilities that Provide Outpatient Surgery
·
Long
Term Skilled Nursing Services
·
Sedation
for Dental Procedures, and
·
Pediatric
Transport
Students
will get to work as a team while being presented with several different
pediatric cases that require treatment.
Types Of Heart Disease In Children:
Congenital Heart Disease- This is a type of heart disease that
children are born with which is usually caused by heart defects that are
present at birth.
CHDs
affecting children include:
·
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome, where the left side of the heart is
underdeveloped
·
Disorders
involving holes in the heart
·
Heart valve disorders like a narrowing of the aortic
valve, which restricts blood flow
·
Tetralogy of Fallot, which is a combination of four
defects which are a hole in the ventricular septum, a displaced aorta, a
thickened right side of the heart and a narrowed passage between the right
ventricle and pulmonary artery.
Congenital
heart defects are usually treated with surgery, catheter procedures,
medications, and in severe cases, heart transplants. Some children may require
lifelong monitoring and treatment.
Arrhythmias- An arrhythmia is an abnormal rhythm
of the heart which can affect the pumping action of the heart. Different types
of arrhythmias in children include:
·
a
fast heart rate (tachycardia), the most common type found in children being supraventricular tachycardia
·
a
slow heart rate (bradycardia)
·
long
Q-T Syndrome (LQTS)
·
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW syndrome)
Some of the
symptoms include weakness, dizziness, fatigue, unconsciousness, difficulty
feeding, etc. The treatments depend on the type of arrhythmia and it’s affect
on a child’s health.
Atherosclerosis- It is a term which is used to
describe fat buildup and cholesterol-filled plaques inside the arteries.
Increase in buildup causes the arteries to become stiffened and narrowed which
increases the risk of blood clots and heart attacks. It is quite unusual for
children or teenagers to suffer from it. There are a few factors which put
children at higher risk which are obesity, diabetes, hypertension and other
health issues. Screening for high cholesterol and high blood pressure is highly
recommended for children who have risk factors like family history of heart
disease or diabetes and are overweight or obese. A few lifestyle changes like
increased exercise and a healthy diet is the best form of treatment in this regards.
The other
types of heart disease in children include heart murmurs, pericarditis,
rheumatic heart disease and viral infections.
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