The early days of childhood are typically carefree, as they should be.
When kids’ minds are occupied between friends, play and school, it’s up to their parents to pay attention to what makes them tick, and that includes their heart health.
One thing we don’t often consider as parents is that children can be at risk for heart disease.
Types of heart diseases in children
Most people associate heart disease with adults, but that does not mean children are immune.
Heart conditions in children are typically divided into two categories: congenital heart disease, which are defects present at birth, or acquired heart disease that develop as the child gets older.
According to the Children’s Hospital of Michigan, the most common cause of heart disease in children is from a congenital heart defect. This stems from a problem with the heart that was present at birth.
“Congenital heart defects may have long-term effects on your child’s health, but as medical care and treatment have advanced, infants with congenital heart defects are living longer and healthier lives,” said Dr. Peter Sassalos, a pediatric cardiovascular surgeon at Children’s Hospital of Michigan. “Many are now living into adulthood.”
There are multiple approaches to treat childhood heart defects, from lifestyle modification and medical therapy to catheter-based procedures, surgical repair and even artificial heart pumps and heart transplantation.
“The good news is that, for even the most severe forms of heart disease, there are now treatment options available,” Sassalos said.
Signs of heart-related conditions in children
The heart is a complex organ. For example, symptoms can be caused by weak heart function, leaky or narrowed valves, holes in the heart, mixing of blue and red blood, abnormal connections and flow of blood through the heart, or blockages of blood vessels.
“Symptoms can vary depending on what disease or defect is affecting the heart and the age of the patient, but there are some red flags that parents should keep an eye out for,” Sassalos said.
- In newborns, these may include bluish discoloration of the lips, fingertips and toes; mottled skin color; cool extremities; and labored breathing, which may appear as fast breathing, hard breathing, use of abdominal muscles to breath, head bobbing and nasal flaring.
- In infants, these may include issues gaining weight, sweating during feeding or if they are unable to finish a bottle or taking longer than normal to finish.
- In young children and adolescents, these may include chest pain or fainting with exercising, but they are often more subtle signs, such as fatigue, decreased energy level, loss of interest in physical activity or sports, and not keeping up with their siblings and friends when playing.
- At any age, it is important to remember that persistent breathing difficulty may not only be related to lung conditions like asthma but can often be an overlooked sign of a potential pediatric heart condition.
Heart disease screening in children
Screening for heart disease in children is important and starts before a child is even born, with an ultrasound by an obstetrician.
Most families are not aware, but newborn screening for heart disease is also performed at birth to identify serious heart issues before leaving the hospital. After that, every time the child is seen by their pediatrician, they are being screened for heart disease through a thorough physical exam that includes checking vitals, listening to the heart and lungs, and feeling for good pulses.
Some children may require additional screening, especially if they have known risk factors, including:
- Being obese or overweight.
- Diabetes or another chronic condition.
- A family history of premature heart disease.
- An unknown family history (in the case of adoption).
If your child meets any of these criteria, talk to his or her doctor about preventive screenings.
Screenings can include:
- Weight checks.
- Monitoring of vital signs.
- Blood pressure screening.
- A physical exam that evaluates for heart murmurs and signs of healthy circulation.
- Blood work to evaluate levels of sugar, triglyceride and cholesterol.
- Electrocardiograms, chest X-rays or an echocardiogram.
Pediatric cardiovascular surgeons vs. other doctors
Families often get confused when it comes to the differences between pediatric cardiologists, pediatric cardiovascular surgeons and each of those non-pediatric doctors.
A pediatric cardiologist is a physician who specializes in the medical care of kids with heart disease.
“A pediatric cardiovascular surgeon, like myself, is a physician who specializes in the surgical management of heart disease and went through extensive training of first adults and then children,” Sassalos said. “I think the most important thing to recognize is that children are not just small adults and that the kinds of heart problems children have are very different from those which adults face.”
He said he works closely with obstetricians and primary care pediatricians to provide coordinated and comprehensive care.
“Because heart problems can sometimes be complex and come with other difficulties for children, it is very important to be cared for by a comprehensive and experienced medical team that subspecializes in pediatric heart disease, like what is offered at Children’s Hospital of Michigan,” Sassalos said. “This allows children to receive the best possible care.”
Lowering a child’s risk for heart disease
In order to lower your child’s risk for heart disease, Sassalos said it is important to put your child’s heart health at the top of your priority list.
A great way to start is to introduce a nutritious diet and encourage physical activity. Something as simple as a family bike ride or backyard soccer -- several times a week -- can make a big difference and prevent heart problems from happening in the future.
“Really, by taking the time to focus on your child’s diet, exercise and regular check-ups with their doctor, you can help keep them on a path to a healthier future,” Sassalos said.
To learn more about Children’s Hospital of Michigan, click or tap here.