Congenital Diseases Tips

Most families refer to their newborn baby as their 'bundle of joy'. The news of a child being born brings immense joy to the entire family. However, due to various reasons, a child could be born with some medical abnormalities, which would be known as congenital abnormalities. There are several different types of heart defects that can be congenital. These usually manifest themselves either immediately after birth or in the early years of life. In some cases, the abnormality could be detected on prenatal ultrasounds. In others, it may not be and the family could be caught off guard about the condition. This causes a lot of stress, both for the child, who does not receive regular postnatal care and for the parents immediately after the delivery process.

If the baby has the following symptoms within the first few hours of life, there could be a serious underlying condition, which requires medical attention. The presence and severity of the symptoms would depend on the actual abnormality.

1. The skin is pale gray or blue in color due to excessive venous flow in the system
2. Excessive sweating
3. The child is exerting to breathe regularly
4. Rapid breathing causes added load on the heart accompanied by a grunting noise
5. Flared nostrils i.e. the baby attempts to take in more oxygen with each breath causes flared nostrils
6. Swollen legs, eyes, and abdomen: Fluid retention in the legs and abdomen is quite common, and this could be characteristic of newborns with congenital heart disease
7. Shortness of breath, even during feeding
8. Clubbed fingernails
9. Lethargy and low energy, even with feeding, therefore very poor feeding pattern
10. Chest pain, which may cause the newborn to cry incessantly
11. Low weight gain, as they feed less

In some children, symptoms manifest only during the teenage years or early adulthood. These conditions are not very severe and the symptoms include:

1. Swelling of the hands, feet, and ankles due to fluid accumulation
2. Lowered energy levels, leading to easy fatigue
3. Shortness of breath with even minimal physical activity
4. Inability to exercise
5. Developmental delays and changes in growth milestones
6. Recurrent respiratory tract infections including sinus infections, bronchitis, and pneumonia
7. Endocarditis
8. Pulmonary hypertension
9. Heart failure, where the heart is not able to effectively function and pump blood to all parts of the body.

Some or more of these symptoms should trigger a warning to get the child tested for congenital heart disease. While some would just require a monitoring until severe symptoms develop, severe conditions like holes, abnormal valves, narrowed arteries, and blood vessel abnormalities might require immediate intervention.

Heart failure can involve the left side (left ventricle), right side (right ventricle) or both sides of your heart. Generally, heart failure begins with the left side, specifically the left ventricle — your heart's main pumping chamber.

Type of heart failure - Description

Left-sided heart failure - Fluid may back up in your lungs, causing shortness of breath.
Right-sided heart failure - Fluid may back up into your abdomen, legs, and feet, causing swelling.
Systolic heart failure - The left ventricle can't contract vigorously, indicating a pumping problem.

Diastolic heart failure (also called heart failure with preserved ejection fraction) -  The left ventricle can't relax or fill fully, indicating a filling problem.

Any of the following conditions can damage or weaken your heart and can cause heart failure. Some of these can be present without your knowing it:

• Coronary artery disease and heart attack - Coronary artery disease is the most common form of heart disease and the most common cause of heart failure. Over time, arteries that supply blood to your heart muscle narrow from a buildup of fatty deposits — a process called atherosclerosis. The buildup of plaques can cause reduced blood flow to your heart. A heart attack occurs if plaques formed by the fatty deposits in your arteries rupture. This causes a blood clot to form, which may block blood flow to an area of the heart muscle, weakening the heart's pumping ability and often leaving permanent damage. If the damage is significant, it can lead to a weakened heart muscle.
• High blood pressure (hypertension) - Blood pressure is the force of blood pumped by your heart through your arteries. If your blood pressure is high, your heart has to work harder than it should to circulate blood throughout your body. Over time, the heart muscle may become thicker to compensate for the extra work it must perform. Eventually, your heart muscle may become either too stiff or too weak to effectively pump blood.
• Faulty heart valves - The valves of your heart keep blood flowing in the proper direction through the heart. A damaged valve — due to a heart defect, coronary artery disease or heart infection — forces your heart to work harder to keep blood flowing as it should. Over time, this extra work can weaken your heart. Faulty heart valves, however, can be fixed or replaced if found in time.
• Damage to the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy) - Heart muscle damage (cardiomyopathy) can have many causes, including several diseases, infections, alcohol abuse and the toxic effect of drugs, such as cocaine or some drugs used for chemotherapy.
• Myocarditis - Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle. It's most commonly caused by a virus and can lead to left-sided heart failure.

• Heart defects you're born with (congenital heart defects) - If your heart and its chambers or valves haven't formed correctly, the healthy parts of your heart have to work harder to pump blood through your heart, which, in turn, may lead to heart failure.

• Abnormal heart rhythms (heart arrhythmias) - Abnormal heart rhythms may cause your heart to beat too fast, which creates extra work for your heart. Over time, your heart may weaken, leading to heart failure. A slow heartbeat may prevent your heart from getting enough blood out to the body and may also lead to heart failure.

Other diseases - Chronic diseases — such as diabetes, HIV, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, or a buildup of iron (hemochromatosis) or protein (amyloidosis) —also may contribute to heart failure.

Causes of acute heart failure include viruses that attack the heart muscle, severe infections, allergic reactions, blood clots in the lungs, the use of certain medications or any illness that affects the whole body.

Symptoms -
Heart failure can be ongoing (chronic), or your condition may start suddenly (acute).
Heart failure signs and symptoms may include:

• shortness of breath (dyspnea) when you exert yourself or when you lie down
• fatigue and weakness
• swelling (edema) in your legs, ankles, and feet
• rapid or irregular heartbeat
• reduced ability to exercise
• a persistent cough or wheezing with white or pink blood-tinged phlegm
• increased need to urinate at night
• swelling of your abdomen (ascites)
• sudden weight gain from fluid retention
• lack of appetite and nausea
• difficulty concentrating or decreased alertness
• sudden, severe shortness of breath and coughing up pink, foamy mucus
• chest pain if your heart failure is caused by a heart attack

Risk factors -  A single risk factor may be enough to cause heart failure, but a combination of factors also increases your risk.

Risk factors include:

• High blood pressure - Your heart works harder than it has to if your blood pressure is high.
• Coronary artery disease - Narrowed arteries may limit your heart's supply of oxygen-rich blood, resulting in weakened heart muscle.
• Heart attack - Damage to your heart muscle from a heart attack may mean your heart can no longer pump as well as it should.
• Diabetes - Having diabetes increases your risk of high blood pressure and coronary artery disease. Some diabetes medications. The diabetes drugs rosiglitazone (Avandia) and pioglitazone (Actos) have been found to increase the risk of heart failure in some people. Don't stop taking these medications on your own, though. If you're taking them, discuss with your doctor whether you need to make any changes.
• Certain medications - Some medications may lead to heart failure or heart problems. Medications that may increase the risk of heart problems include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); certain anesthesia medications; some antiarrhythmic medications; certain medications used to treat high blood pressure, cancer, blood conditions, neurological conditions, psychiatric conditions, lung conditions, urological conditions, inflammatory conditions and infections; and other prescription and over-the-counter medications. Don't stop taking any medications on your own. If you have questions about medications you're taking, discuss with your doctor whether he or she recommends any changes.

• Sleep apnea - The inability to breathe properly while you sleep at night results in low blood oxygen levels and increased risk of abnormal heart rhythms. Both of these problems can weaken the heart.

• Congenital heart defects - Some people who develop heart failure were born with structural heart defects.
• Valvular heart disease - People with valvular heart disease have a higher risk of heart failure. 
• Viruses - A viral infection may have damaged your heart muscle.
• Alcohol use - Drinking too much alcohol can weaken the heart muscle and lead to heart failure.
• Tobacco use - Using tobacco can increase your risk of heart failure.
• Obesity - People who are obese have a higher risk of developing heart failure.
• Irregular heartbeats - These abnormal rhythms, especially if they are very frequent and fast, can weaken the heart muscle and cause heart failure.

Complications - If you have heart failure, your outlook depends on the cause and the severity, your overall health, and other factors such as your age. Complications can include:

1. Kidney damage or failure - Heart failure can reduce the blood flow to your kidneys, which can eventually cause kidney failure if left untreated. Kidney damage from heart failure can require dialysis for treatment.
2. Heart valve problems -The valves of your heart, which keep blood flowing in the proper direction through your heart, may not function properly if your heart is enlarged or if the pressure in your heart is very high due to heart failure.
3. Heart rhythm problems - Heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias) can be a potential complication of heart failure.
4. Liver damage - Heart failure can lead to a buildup of fluid that puts too much pressure on the liver. This fluid backup can lead to scarring, which makes it more difficult for your liver to function properly.

Homeopathic remedies:-
Homeopathy today is a rapidly growing system and is being practiced all over the world. Its strength lies in its evident effectiveness as it takes a holistic approach towards the sick individual through the promotion of inner balance at mental, emotional, spiritual and physical levels. When heart failure is concerned there are many effective medicines are available in homeopathy, but the selection depends upon the individuality of the patient, considering the mental and physical symptoms.

• Aurum metallicum 30 - Heart failure after valvular lesions. Hear feels loose on walking. Sensations as if heart stopped beating for two or three seconds, immediately followed by tumultuous rebound with sinking at the epigastrium. Oppression at the heart. Pulse rapid, feeble and irregular. Blood pressure high.
• Digitalis purpurea 3x - Digitalis is an excellent remedy for heart failure with the irregular heartbeat. Sensation as if heart would stop beating if moved, must hold the breath and keep still. Pulse full, irregular, very slow and weak, intermitting every third, fifth, or seventh beat. Weak heart. The least movement causes violent palpitations. Frequent stitches in the heart.
• Strophanthus his. Q - Strophanthus is best for heart failure with edema of legs. Heart’s action weak, rapid, irregular, due to muscular debility and insufficiency. Pulse rapid, alternating with slow, weak, small irregular.
• Laurocerasus 30 - Laurocerasus is best for heart failure with pain in the region of the heart. There is clutching at heart and palpitations. Pulse weak, variable, slow or irregular. Urine, retained, suppressed involuntary with palpitations and suffocations and fainting.
• Crataegus oxy. Q - Crataegus is considered a heart tonic. Heart muscles seem flabby, worn out. Heart weakness with oppression, stitches, and insomnia. Extreme dyspnea on least exertion without much increase of pulse. Heart dilated, first sound weak. Incompetent valves, valvular murmurs.
• Cardus marianus q - Cardus marianus is effective for heart failure with liver complaints. Pain pressure and stitches in the region of the heart, oppression of deep breathing.
• Naja tripudians 30 - Naja is best for heart failure with weakness and valvular disorders. Visible palpitations. Damaged heart after infectious diseases.
• Nux vomica 30 - Nux vomica is an excellent remedy for heart failure seen in alcoholics. Hear feels tired, palpitation on lying down. Usually constipated with ineffectual desire.

Cardiac problems are very scary and what is more scary is choosing the top cardiologist in Delhi. There are so many cardiologists in Delhi and there are so many type of cardiologist depending on their area of specialization. Clinical cardiologists, adult cardiologist, paediatric cardiologist.

There are few cardiologist who specializes in procedures like electrophysiology, echocardiography, and interventional procedures such as stent placement and balloon angioplasty. Cardiologist are specialized in diagnosing any kind of disorder or dysfunctioning of heart and can perform minimally invasive surgeries like pacemaker implantation.

Here is the list of top 10 cardiologist in Delhi, who are specialized and experts at treating all kind of heart problems:

1. Dr. Anupam Goel

MBBS, MD (Gen. Medicine), DM (Cardiology)

Consultation fees: ₹1000

Dr. Anupam Goel is a senior Interventional Cardiologist. She is currently associated with Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket. She has an experience of 25 years in this field. She has done several fellowships in cardiology and is engaged in the academic training, CMEs and as principal clinical investigator at various national and international levels. Her areas of expertise are: Percutaneous Coronary Angioplasty and Stent Implantation, Primary Angioplasty in Acute Myocardial Infarction, Acute Coronary Care, Clinical Cardiology and Coronary Angiography and Angioplasty via Radial Artery Route.

2. Dr. Nitin Kumar

CCT - Cardiology (UK), MRCP (UK), FHEA (UK), MBBS

Consultation fees: ₹800

Dr Nitin Kumar is a consultant cardiologist with 16 years of national and international experience. He is currently affiliated with Express clinic, Delhi and CREDENCE Super specialty Clinic in Gurgaon. His area of specialization are transradial interventions (angiography and angioplasty through the wrist), treating acute heart attacks by Primary Angioplasty, management of acute coronary syndromes, complex angioplasty including bifurcation lesions, Intravascular imaging including IVUS and OCT, Fractional Flow Reserve assessment (FFR study) and Rotablation.

3. Dr. Rajiv Agarwal

MBBS, MD - Medicine, DM - Cardiology, Fellowship in Interventional Cardiology

Consultation fees: ₹500

Dr Rajiv Agarwal is a Senior Interventional Cardiologist and currently works at Max Smart Super Speciality hospital as Senior Director and Unit Head, Department of Cardiology. He has 33 years of experience. His areas of interest are Coronary Interventions & Valvuloplasty, Electrophysiology Study, Device Implantation (including Combo device), Device closures and Peripheral Interventions and also including Bronchial and Renal Artery Embolization. He has been awarded several national and international awards for his contribution in the field of cardiology.

4. Dr. R. R. Mantri

DNB (Cardiology), DM - Cardiology, MD - General Medicine, MBBS

Consultation fees: ₹1000- 1500

Dr. RR Mantri is a very reputed name in his fraternity. He is currently working as Director Cath Lab & Cardiac Arrhythmia Services, Department of Cardiology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi. He has experience of more than 35 years as Interventional Cardiologist, Diabetologist and Electrophysiologist. His areas of clinical interest are treating patients suffering from congenital heart diseases, cardiovascular diseases, cardiac valve diseases, hypertension, artery blockages, heart failure, high cholesterol, diabetes due to obesity. He is a pioneer in Transradial Angiography in India.

5. Dr. Anil Saxena

DNB Cardiology, MD - Internal Medicine, MBBS

Consultation fees: ₹1000 

Dr. Anil is currently practicing as Director, Cardiac Pacing & Electrophysiology at Fortis Hospital, Okhla. His areas of clinical interest are Electrophysiologic Study, Catheter RF Ablation of complex arrhythmias, 3D Mapping of Cardiac Arrhythmias with CARTO and Ensite, Implantation of Permanent Pacemakers, Implantation of ICD, Implantation of Biventricular pacemakers (CRT). Implantation of CRT-D (Combo Device), Lead Extraction and Coronary Angiography. He is not only member of some reputed national and international organisations, but also recipetents of many awards. 

6. Dr. Viveka Kumar

DM - Cardiology, MD - General Medicine, MBBS

Consultation fees: ₹1000 

Dr. Viveka Kumar has 29 years of practice in the field of Cardiac interventions and Electrophysiology. In years of his practice he has done more than 7500 angioplasties and 2500 balloon valvotomy. He has also handled some complex cases of angioplasties. He is considered to be a pioneer of using advanced technologies like bifurcation and left main angioplasties with Rota Ablation. He has special interest in clinical research and has been associated with principal investigator or a sub-investigator in more than 14 national and international trials.

7. Dr. Ripen Gupta

MBBS, MD - Medicine, DM - Cardiology

Consultation fees: ₹1000 -1200

Dr. Gupta has 26 years of experience and is considered to be one of the most reputed cardiologists of Delhi. He was the first cardiologist to be awarded the Postdoctoral Fellowship of National Board in Interventional Cardiology instituted by National Board of Examinations. His areas of specializations are treatment of arrhythmia, coronary artery disease and dyslipidemia. He currently practices at Max super speciality, Saket and Dr Ripen Gupta's Clinic, Vasant Kunj, Delhi.

8. Dr. Rajneesh Jain

DM - Cardiology, MD - Internal Medicine, MBBS

Consultation fees: ₹1500 -2000

Dr. Rajneesh Jain is amongst the most experienced and best cardiologist in Delhi. In 35 years of practice he has handled and treated some very complicated cases of adult cardiac catheterization, angiography, and acute coronary emergencies. Some of other specializations are peripheral angiograms and angioplasty, percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty of all valves, permanent pacemaker implantation. He is currently associated with Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi.

9. Dr. Nishith Chandra

DM Cardiology

Consultation fees: ₹1000 -1500

Dr. Chandra, is currently working as a director interventional cardiology, at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute & Research Centre, New Delhi. In his 21 years of practice he is a famous and reputed name in the field. His areas of core interest and specialization are complex coronary interventions including Rotablation, Carotid Interventions, Balloon Valvotomies and Peripheral Vascular Interventions. One of his greatest accomplishment is setting up the Air Ambulance Unit of Escorts Heart Institute that has helped in treating more than 300 critically cases.

10. Dr. Rajiv Bajaj

MBBS, MD - Internal Medicine, DM - Cardiology

Consultation fees: ₹500

Dr. Rajiv Bajaj is currently associated with Batra Hospital, Delhi. He has experience of 38 years and is amongst the eminent doctors in the field of cardiology. He has performed numerous coronary angioplasties, more than 200 electrophysiology studies and 100 ablations including VT and flutter ablations in adults and pediatric population. His areas of interest are Coronary angioplasty, cardiac catheterization in permanent pacemaker implantations, electrophysiology, echocardiography.

Most families refer to their newborn baby as their 'bundle of joy'. The news of a child being born brings immense joy to the entire family. However, due to various reasons, a child could be born with some medical abnormalities, which would be known as congenital abnormalities. There are several different types of heart defects that can be congenital. These usually manifest themselves either immediately after birth or in the early years of life. In some cases, the abnormality could be detected on prenatal ultrasounds. In others, it may not be and the family could be caught off guard about the condition. This causes a lot of stress, both for the child, who does not receive regular postnatal care and for the parents immediately after the delivery process.

If the baby has the following symptoms within the first few hours of life, there could be a serious underlying condition, which requires medical attention. The presence and severity of the symptoms would depend on the actual abnormality.

1. The skin is pale gray or blue in color due to excessive venous flow in the system
2. Excessive sweating
3. The child is exerting to breathe regularly
4. Rapid breathing causes added load on the heart accompanied by a grunting noise
5. Flared nostrils i.e. the baby attempts to take in more oxygen with each breath causes flared nostrils
6. Swollen legs, eyes, and abdomen: Fluid retention in the legs and abdomen is quite common, and this could be characteristic of newborns with congenital heart disease
7. Shortness of breath, even during feeding
8. Clubbed fingernails
9. Lethargy and low energy, even with feeding, therefore very poor feeding pattern
10. Chest pain, which may cause the newborn to cry incessantly
11. Low weight gain, as they feed less

In some children, symptoms manifest only during the teenage years or early adulthood. These conditions are not very severe and the symptoms include:

1. Swelling of the hands, feet, and ankles due to fluid accumulation
2. Lowered energy levels, leading to easy fatigue
3. Shortness of breath with even minimal physical activity
4. Inability to exercise
5. Developmental delays and changes in growth milestones
6. Recurrent respiratory tract infections including sinus infections, bronchitis, and pneumonia
7. Endocarditis
8. Pulmonary hypertension
9. Heart failure, where the heart is not able to effectively function and pump blood to all parts of the body.

Some or more of these symptoms should trigger a warning to get the child tested for congenital heart disease. While some would just require a monitoring until severe symptoms develop, severe conditions like holes, abnormal valves, narrowed arteries, and blood vessel abnormalities might require immediate intervention.

Most families refer to their newborn baby as their 'bundle of joy'. The news of a child being born brings immense joy to the entire family. However, due to various reasons, a child could be born with some medical abnormalities, which would be known as congenital abnormalities.

If your child has a congenital heart defect, it means that your child was born with a problem in the structure of his or her heart. Some congenital heart defects in children are simple and don't need treatment. Other congenital heart defects in children are more complex and may require several surgeries performed over a period of several years.

There are several different types of heart defects that can be congenital. These usually manifest themselves either immediately after birth or in the early years of life. In some cases, the abnormality could be detected on prenatal ultrasounds. In others, it may not be and the family could be caught off guard about the condition. This causes a lot of stress, both for the child, who does not receive regular postnatal care and for the parents immediately after the delivery process.

If the baby has the following symptoms within the first few hours of life, there could be a serious underlying condition, which requires medical attention. The presence and severity of the symptoms would depend on the actual abnormality.

1. The skin is pale gray or blue in color due to excessive venous flow in the system
2. Excessive sweating
3. The child is exerting to breathe regularly
4. Rapid breathing causes added load on the heart accompanied by a grunting noise
5. Flared nostrils i.e. the baby attempts to take in more oxygen with each breath causes flared nostrils
6. Swollen legs, eyes, and abdomen: Fluid retention in the legs and abdomen is quite common, and this could be characteristic of newborns with congenital heart disease
7. Shortness of breath, even during feeding
8. Clubbed fingernails
9. Lethargy and low energy, even with feeding, therefore very poor feeding pattern
10. Chest pain, which may cause the newborn to cry incessantly
11. Low weight gain, as they feed less

In some children, symptoms manifest only during the teenage years or early adulthood. These conditions are not very severe and the symptoms include:

1. Swelling of the hands, feet, and ankles due to fluid accumulation
2. Lowered energy levels, leading to easy fatigue
3. Shortness of breath with even minimal physical activity
4. Inability to exercise
5. Developmental delays and changes in growth milestones
6. Recurrent respiratory tract infections including sinus infections, bronchitis, and pneumonia
7. Endocarditis
8. Pulmonary hypertension
9. Heart failure, where the heart is not able to effectively function and pump blood to all parts of the body.

Some or more of these symptoms should trigger a warning to get the child tested for congenital heart disease. While some would just require a monitoring until severe symptoms develop, severe conditions like holes, abnormal valves, narrowed arteries, and blood vessel abnormalities might require immediate intervention. Serious congenital heart defects are often diagnosed before or soon after your child is born. If you notice that your baby has any of the signs or symptoms above, call your child's doctor.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Out of the many things a parent can be worried about their child, physical growth and development are the major ones. Height development is indeed a very crucial part of the overall development of a child's body. But how will you know whether your child is short and should you worry if he or she is short?

When is a child categorised as being short?
A child is said to be of short stature when the height is two standard deviations less than the mean height for the specific age and sex. However, it does not signify that your child is sick or has some deformity.

What are the causes of being short?
The most common reasons that need not be worried about are:

1. Ancestry: Your child short height could be a result genetics. If his/her parents belong from a short family stature, then, the child is most likely to follow the same. Being said that, their body performs in a normal way and they do not face any medical issue despite being short.
2. Delay in Growth: In case a child faces a severe growth delay between the age of 6 months and up to 2 years, then it may lead to him/her staying short. Such children usually grow at a much slower pace, compared to other children of the same age without any development issues. However, no medical treatment is required as the child usually catches up with the height of their friends of the same age, once they become adults.

What are the medical Conditions behind the short stature?
For children who show an excessive delay in growth, doctors can find out whether they are going through any serious medical condition that needs attention or not. Some of the medical conditions which can cause short height are:

1. Malnutrition: For those who do not receive proper nutrition on a daily basis, tend to face physical health issues.
2. Chronic Illness: Any congenital disease or something that affects the major organs of one's body might slow down the height growth.
3. GHD: Growth Hormone Deficiency is a common condition in children. When the pituitary gland does not produce enough hormones, such a condition occurs.
4. Mental Stress: When a child faces stress from a very little age, often he or she becomes mentally and physically hampered.
5. Genetic Problems: A condition known as Turner’s syndrome can cause growth failure in a girl child.
6. Hormonal Imbalance: For those who suffer from improper production of hormones, they might face obstruction in case of height growth.
7. Endocrine diseases: Endocrine diseases disrupt hormone production thus resulting in a delay in growth.

For every 100 children of a particular age, 3 tend to be shorter. However, unless your child suffers from a medical problem, short stature is not to be worried, and it is recommended that they have a proper and balanced nutrition to ensure a proper height development. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

The heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood to the entire body through a network of arteries and veins. This network contains big vessels which branch out further to supply blood to the distant organs. There is, therefore, some pressure that the heart and thereby the vessels need to exert to push the blood through these vessels. This is known as blood pressure, and normal pressure levels range from 90-140(systolic)/60-90(diastolic) mm of Hg. However, due to various reasons, this pressure could be more, which is one of the first signs of heart disease.

Causes of increased blood pressure: 

1. Thickening of the blood vessels. With age, the elastic blood vessels naturally turn rigid and less elastic, so there is more pressure required to push blood. It is natural for people over 55 years of age to have higher readings of blood pressure. This is known as primary hypertension (HTN).
2. Narrowed blood vessels. This happens due to cholesterol accumulation along the walls of the blood vessels. Faulty dietary habits along with sedentary lifestyle have increased the incidence of hypertension due to this condition, known as atherosclerosis. Critical atherosclerotic narrowing of renal arteries lead to renovascular HTN that is one of the commonest of secondary HTN. 

Other Causes of secondary hypertension are: 

1. Kidney problems
2. Thyroid hormone disorders 
3. Congenital heart defects 
4. Chronic alcohol abuse 
5. Adrenal gland tumours 
6. Chronic use of medications like birth control pills, pain killers, etc. 

Unidentified and uncontrolled hypertension can be silent and can lead to more severe conditions like heart attack and stroke. India is fast becoming the new hypertension capital of the world. Some of the common risk factors are: 

1. Age 
2. Family history 
3. Being obese or overweight 
4. Sedentary lifestyle
5. Smoking 
6. Alcohol consumption 
7. Excessive salt intake 
8. Stress levels 
9. Ethnic background 

Symptoms: 

1. Hypertension can go undetected for years together, but if there are risk factors like diabetes and high cholesterol, it is advisable to periodically monitor blood pressure. 
2. Headaches, nosebleeds, and shortness of breath should not be ignored. These can be the first warning signs of hypertension, and if detected early, preventive measures can be taken. 
3. If there are co-morbid risk factors, it is advisable to constantly keep a check on BP readings. 

Management: 

This includes a combination of diet and lifestyle modifications. 

1. Quit smoking and alcohol: Of the many wonders quitting smoking can do, reducing BP readings is just one. The improvement would be almost instantaneous. Quit or else reduce alcohol and see dramatic improvements. 
2. Weight management: Through a combination of diet and exercise, ensure that weight is brought under control. Set a target BMI (Below 26 kg/m2) and work towards it religiously. 
3. Diet: Reduce salt, increase potassium, increase vitamin D, eat a heart-healthy diet, and see the hypertension readings improve. Please find attached and reviewed copy for health tip for posting. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a cardiologist.

What is congenital hypothyroidism?
Newborn babies who are unable to make enough thyroid hormone have congenital hypothyroidism, meaning they are born with an underactive or absent thyroid gland.  If the condition is not found and treated, children can have mental retardation and growth failure. But the good news is that early diagnosis and proper treatment can prevent these problems. In most cases, the condition is permanent and your child will need lifelong treatment. 

What causes congenital hypothyroidism?
 The most common causes are

1. An underdeveloped thyroid gland
2. A thyroid gland that’s not located where it should be (in the neck below the voice box or larynx)  
3. A missing thyroid gland

 Other possible causes include

1. Defective production of thyroid hormone (an inherited condition)
2. Problems with the pituitary gland (located at the base of the brain), which tells the thyroid to make thyroid hormone
3. Less commonly, a mother’s thyroid disease or medicines taken during pregnancy can cause congenital hypothyroidism.

What are the signs and symptoms of congenital hypothyroidism?

Many babies with congenital hypothyroidism appear normal at birth or for several months after birth.  But others may have these signs and symptoms:

• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
• Constipation
• Poor muscle tone
• Sluggishness
• A hoarse cry
• They might also have
• Feeding problems
• A thick, large tongue
• A puffy-looking face
• A swollen abdomen, sometimes with “outpouching” of the belly button
• Large soft spots of the skull

Thyroid hormone deficiency can also occur in older babies or young children, even if test results at birth were normal.

Treatment
Early diagnosis is very important. Most of the effects of hypothyroidism are easy to reverse. For this reason, doctors always ask to get screening for hypothyroidism of your newborn.

Thyroxine is usually given to treat hypothyroidism. Once the child starts taking this medicine, blood tests are regularly done to make sure thyroid hormone levels are in a normal range.

When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your health care provider if:

• You feel your infant shows signs or symptoms of hypothyroidism
• You are pregnant and have been exposed to antithyroid drugs or procedures

Prevention
If a pregnant woman takes radioactive iodine for thyroid cancer, the thyroid gland may be destroyed in the developing fetus. Infants whose mothers have taken such medicines should be observed carefully after birth for signs of hypothyroidism. Also, pregnant women should not avoid iodine-supplemented salt. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult an endocrinologist.

Most families refer to their newborn baby as their 'bundle of joy'. The news of a child being born brings immense joy to the entire family. However, due to various reasons, a child could be born with some medical abnormalities, which would be known as congenital abnormalities. There are several different types of heart defects that can be congenital. These usually manifest themselves either immediately after birth or in the early years of life. In some cases, the abnormality could be detected on prenatal ultrasounds. In others, it may not be and the family could be caught off guard about the condition. This causes a lot of stress, both for the child, who does not receive regular postnatal care and for the parents immediately after the delivery process.

If the baby has the following symptoms within the first few hours of life, there could be a serious underlying condition, which requires medical attention. The presence and severity of the symptoms would depend on the actual abnormality.

1. The skin is pale gray or blue in color due to excessive venous flow in the system
2. Excessive sweating
3. The child is exerting to breathe regularly
4. Rapid breathing causes added load on the heart accompanied by a grunting noise
5. Flared nostrils i.e. the baby attempts to take in more oxygen with each breath causes flared nostrils
6. Swollen legs, eyes, and abdomen: Fluid retention in the legs and abdomen is quite common, and this could be characteristic of newborns with congenital heart disease
7. Shortness of breath, even during feeding
8. Clubbed fingernails
9. Lethargy and low energy, even with feeding, therefore very poor feeding pattern
10. Chest pain, which may cause the newborn to cry incessantly
11. Low weight gain, as they feed less

In some children, symptoms manifest only during the teenage years or early adulthood. These conditions are not very severe and the symptoms include:

1. Swelling of the hands, feet, and ankles due to fluid accumulation
2. Lowered energy levels, leading to easy fatigue
3. Shortness of breath with even minimal physical activity
4. Inability to exercise
5. Developmental delays and changes in growth milestones
6. Recurrent respiratory tract infections including sinus infections, bronchitis, and pneumonia
7. Endocarditis
8. Pulmonary hypertension
9. Heart failure, where the heart is not able to effectively function and pump blood to all parts of the body.

Some or more of these symptoms should trigger a warning to get the child tested for congenital heart disease. While some would just require a monitoring until severe symptoms develop, severe conditions like holes, abnormal valves, narrowed arteries, and blood vessel abnormalities might require immediate intervention. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a cardiologist.

Anorexia is a common eating disorder which is identified by abnormally low body weight, intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of body weight. The problem is not only related to your dietary patterns but it also related to your mental state. People with this disorder are generally self-conscious, have a low self-esteem and are overly concerned about their external appearance.

Causes of Anorexia

• Biological factors - These factors represent that anorexia can be congenital or it may have developed over time. Congenital means that disorder is hereditary in nature and is passed on from the parents to the offspring. On the other hand, it may develop in people who are more sensitive and have an inclination towards perfection.
• Psychological factors - Anorexia can also be caused due to certain specific personality traits and emotions that might be possessed by you. For instance, anorexia is more likely to happen to young women who are really worried and conscious out the way they look externally. Additionally, people who are either emotionally not too strong or suffer from anxiety issues can develop this disorder easily.
• Environmental factors - The type of a cultural set up you are living in also plays an important role in developing this disorder. For instance, the western culture is all about slim and fit people, whereas the oriental countries are not so bothered about the same.

Symptoms of Anorexia

Emotional symptoms - This category of symptoms includes behaviors and a thought process aimed towards losing weight and minimizing your food intake. Some of the symptoms belonging to this type include:

• Forceful vomiting to lose calories
• Staying hungry
• Excessive physical activity or exercise
• Denial of hunger
• Social withdrawal
• Irritability
• Depressed moods

Physical symptoms - These symptoms are self-explanatory and are clearly visible on the human body. These include:

• Extreme weight loss
• Thin appearance
• Abnormal blood count
• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• Dizziness or fainting
• Discoloration of the fingers
• Hair that thins, breaks or falls out
• Soft, downy hair covering the body
• Constipation
• Low blood pressure 

  If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a psychiatrist and ask a free question.