Thursday, April 10, 2014

Heart Disease in Young Children and Onwards

         Heart Disease also called "Cardiovascular disease"  is the leading cause of deaths worldwide, mostly effected by heart disease is older humans, though the process begins in early life, it can be controlled. There is many different types of heart diseases, which then have subcategories of those. Some of these types include, Coronary artery disease, Cardiomyopathy, Hypertensive heart disease, Cardiac dysrhythmias, as well, Valvular heart disease. There is many risk factors behind heart disease, your diet, obesity, family history, smoking , alcohol, (excessive). All these are factors, contribute into heart disease, and while some are able to change, some are born with it, age, gender, family history, these all are factors that you can't change.  I'm going to go into  the factors of those, age, family history, and gender. More about  heart disease in young children and babies, and ways to prevent it, or realizing that you may have a baby with heart disease which takes steps into genetics, as well  inherited heart diseases, along with personally caused diseases.

     Heart disease is actually more vibrant in older people and to that, older men even more. With 82 percent of people dying of (coronary) heart disease, are at the age of 65 and older, and on top of that, men are more vulnerable to heart disease. For kids, it is said, for Congenital heart defects about 1 in 100 newborn are affected by some type of heart defect. Though now in recent times,  most of these heart defects, in the early stages of life, can be successful, in curing and making it better, such operations include, cardiac surgery, cardiac catheterizations. These are now common in infants, and newborns. Hopefully leading to a good, healthy life.

    There is causes outside of just genetics, like i said before, diet, exercises, other health problems. Drug use, excessive alcohol, and exposure to chemicals, is all a risk during pregnancy, as it increases the malformations. Smoking increases the build ups in arteries and lung problems, and overall increases the risk of coronary heart disease. Drinking while pregnant should be completely avoided, and as drinking later, it can cause high blood pressure and heart failure, and include cardio problems, sudden cardiac deaths, and arrhythymias.

       Genetic heart disease, is heart diseases passed down from the parent, to the kid. If you know that your family has heart disease, then you can be more careful, and find ways to avoid giving the kid the disease, or if you so wish to have your own kid, you take the risk of giving the kid the disease, obviously the chances are mostly 50%, as to if one parent has it, and the other doesn't. Even if the kid is born with it, does not necessarily mean you need to take action on it. Some symptoms never come out, as well some times the heart disease never truly comes out and effects them.               

     Signs and symptoms to heart disease can be shown after birth with a heart murmur, though heart murmurs don't indicate a heart disease, it helps in to figuring out if there is one present or not. After birth children can get EKGs , and x-rays to help determine if they have a heart problem.  Some times symptoms may be there but nothing serious, and so no reason to do anything about it. Some serious ones though they can be cured with certain surgeries. Some other symptoms is breathing troubles, or a condition that is "cyanosis" where the baby has blue skin because of the lack of oxygen in the blood.

     Treating heart defects in babies can be easily fixed with an operation. Others that are more serious might need more than one operation. Then lastly if very serious, there will be countless visits to the doctors, and making sure everything stays silent for the time. There is also operation balloon angioplasty, and valvuloplasty, "In these procedures, a pediatric cardiologist inserts a catheter, a thin plastic tube with a special balloon attached, into a blood vessel. The balloon is then inflated to stretch open the narrow area of the blood vessel or heart valve." Other procedures include closing holes, or blood vessels. Some even cure themselves as the child grows up. Along with these heart defects can come with infection, a problem called bacterial endocarditis, "an infection of the tissue that lines the heart and blood vessels."  Which becomes a very serious problem in itself, and the child will need treatment for that. It is also recommended to keep good care of their teeth.

Suspecting anything of heart defects and caring for your child after they are diagnosed is crucial for them growing up, if you see any signs of an event of anything related to their heart you should notify the doctor soon, these include, "loss of color, difficult breathing, bad appetite, sweating while feeding, decreased energy, or prolonged fever". As for caring for the child you should learn about feeding, giving the medicines on time, and make sure you're not just babying them, and let them get comfortable with caring for themselves. They may have scars, they may have have to take medicine, and visit the cardiologist, it is recommended to when they are old enough to understand talk to them about what they had to go through as a kid they may not remember, and make sure they have a role for their care. Make sure they do some participation in some activities, though they will be limited in some sports, and rigorous activities. Just make sure not to hover over like a hawk, make sure they live as normal of a life as possible.

Sources ; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiovascular_disease#Age
http://kidshealth.org/parent/system/ill/if_heart_defect.html#a_If_You_Suspect_a_Problem
http://kidshealth.org/parent/system/ill/if_heart_defect.html#a_About_Congenital_Heart_Defects
http://kidshealth.org/parent/system/ill/if_heart_defect.html#a_Heart_Problems_Before_Birth
http://kidshealth.org/parent/system/ill/if_heart_defect.html#a_Treatment_for_Congenital_Heart_Defects
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/heart_vascular_institute/clinical_services/specialty_areas/center_inherited_heart_diseases.html
   
     
        

My Experience And Last Day With Cain

For the past two weeks I had a baby, his name was Cain, and at first it was fun, and I enjoy it , feeling as if I took it a lot more serious than some people. But as the days progressed and I began to realize I was restricted in some manners. I couldn't go play basketball at lunch without having to worry about who has my baby, and who to give my baby. I had to bring him along everywhere, because I didn't have the money to where i could pay anyone. I brought him into the bathroom, and i brought him to peoples houses. One time only I had my dad watch him. I learned a lot with this experience, and only knowing this baby didn't need extra attention makes you really understand how crazy it would be with a real baby at this age, or any age


My last day, was sad, but bittersweet, Cain and I departed ways, he sadly passed away Tuesday. It was sad, but not before i got the last few pictures with him, and my buddy Erik and his baby. Was a good two weeks, and hopefully one day ill have a real Cain in my life.

Friday, March 28, 2014

Updates

 Me and Cain are enjoying life, he's been a really good baby. Spring break is coming up and I'm looking forward to spend some quality time with him. We have a Oakland Athletics game we are going to this upcoming Wednesday , against our favourite team, Cleveland Indians. So we are looking forward to that, Stay Tuned~

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Update on New Parenting Life

The third day having my baby, and it's going smooth as possible. I have taken him everywhere I've gone, to the golf course, to my therapist, to the store, everywhere he's with me. It has limited me to some things, like playing basketball at lunch, because i don't want to have the hassle of finding someone to watch him, so i just don't do that. Pretty much, it's been fine with my baby life. Me and Cain are happy.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

A Day With My Baby


Yesterday Cain and I enjoyed a lovely day on the golf course, with the nice weather windy but cool. We sat and enjoyed the great view behind me. What a lovely day. Father and Son.

Monday, March 24, 2014

My First Day as a Parent

Hello and welcome to Cain and I's new life together, experiencing the wonders of the world.


           In the "If I Became a Teen Parent" assignment, did the response you received from your parent/guardian surprise you?  Discuss. Well my dad was very supportive, and he would help me out, and he's the only parent in my life right now, and i know he would help me out to an extent.

       
          What responses to the flour baby project surprised you?  (i.e. What friends, family, or strangers said or how they acted) Well lot of friends are joking, and not taking it serious, and when someone called my baby cute it made me feel good, and then when someone random actually called it ugly, I'm like well alright that's cool.
      
 
          In what ways should we have started this project differently?  (i.e. If we had it to do over again, how would you have started the project?) I believe this project was started fine, you had all the objects ready, you get everything you need, i can't really think what else there is to add to the project, or start it differently.



          What was the most surprising about the "Baby Costs" project? The whole hospital cost was very surprising, costing so much to actually have the baby, i guess it's expected because its a hospital but still.

So all you single ladies looking for a nice father :). I'm the guy ;].