Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) or ASDs are the second-most common type of congenital heart defect which is a hole in the wall known as the “septum” that separates the two upper chambers of the heart. A hole in the atrial wall is quite normal before and immediately after birth which closes within hours or months after birth. A hole in the septum causes the blood to flow from the ticker’s left atrium to the right one which causes the blood which has just returned to the left atrium from picking up oxygen in the lungs to cross to the right atrium. It again returns to the lungs without traveling through the body thus leading to inefficient blood circulation and an increase in the amount of blood going to the right side of the heart and lungs. Before going ahead with ASD symptoms and diagnosis and treatment, get to know about the life-saving CPR techniques.
The CPR procedures comprise chest compressions and rescue breaths. Proper application can revive the life of a victim involved in a cardiac emergency which can either be a cardiac arrest or heart attack. Every individual should be well-trained in the techniques. For training, always select a certified training center such as the AHA certified CPR Columbus in Ohio. Certified instructors conduct the classes through a series of audio and video lectures and hands-on practice. Read to know more about an “ACLS class Columbus”.
Advanced Cardiac Life Support Classes- This course is required for most healthcare professionals that work in acute care areas of a hospital or other healthcare industries that provide sedation and outpatient procedures. Healthcare providers will get to master the skills necessary to manage peri-arrest, cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest, and immediate post cardiac arrest patients.
The program fee is $299. Become certified at the end of the training classes after successfully passing a skills test and written exam.
ASD Symptoms- The symptoms may not occur until adulthood when damage to the lungs and ticker may have already taken place. Patient may have all or none of these symptoms inclusive of fatigue, shortness of breath, swelling in legs, feet or abdomen, palpitations or irregular heartbeats and no or poor weight gain in children.
A doctor may discover ASD during a check-up with he or she hearing a heart murmur through the stethoscope or finding any other signs of a heart defect. Accordingly, he may refer an individual for tests to determine the presence of ASD. Some of the tests include:
Electrocardiogram- This test traces the ticker’s rhythm and electrical activity.
Echocardiogram- This test enables doctors in looking at the chambers of the heart to look for defects. Doctors also get to examine the valves and the ticker’s pumping strength.
Chest X-ray provides an image of the heart and lungs.
Angiogram- This test helps a doctor to assess the ticker’s pumping ability, blood pressure in the lungs and the valves.
Some of the complications include potential occurrence of a stroke, irreversible damage to the blood vessels in the lungs and abnormal heart rhythm.
Treatment Options:
1. ASD can be closed with an implanted closure device that can help avoid open-heart surgery.
2. Doctors may recommend open-heart surgery during cases when ASD is too large for treatment with a closure device.
3. The cardiologist may recommend anti-congestive heart failure medications like diuretics, inotropes, anticoagulants, etc.
Hope, you find this information to be useful.
For more information or to join a CPR program at CPR Columbus, call on 614-321-2094.
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