Heart Flutters

Open Question: Worried I will pass it down to my daughter (Super long, sorry!)?

July 1st, 2009 | by admin | Open Question: Worried I will pass it down to my daughter (Super long, sorry!)?
I was born two congential heart defect one called patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Before birth, the two major arteries?the aorta and the pulmonary artery?are normally connected by a blood vessel called the ductus arteriosus, which is an essential part of the fetal circulation. After birth, the vessel is supposed to close within a few days as part of the normal changes occurring in the baby’s circulation. In some babies, however, the ductus arteriosus remains open (patent). This opening allows blood to flow directly from the aorta into the pulmonary artery, which can put a strain on the heart and increase the blood pressure in the lung arteries.
I also have a bicuspid aeortic valve which is a defect of the aortic valve that results in the formation of two leaflets or cusps instead of the normal three. Normally only the mitral valve (bicuspid valve) has two cusps (instead of three); situated between the left atrium and left ventricle. Valves ensure the unidirectional flow of blood from the atrium to the ventricles, or the ventricles to the major arteries and veins. Both of these conditions are hereditary
Her doctor is aware of my concerns and is great about all of my worries. He checks for a heart murmur (super common in PDA) every check-up, but it still worries me because I never had a heart murmur growing up nor do I now. I am in good health and these defects do not affect my everyday life.
I was not diagnosed with this until I was 7 months pregnant with Georgia at the age of 27. And since then, I worry myself to death about her inheriting these. I just hate the thought that I passed down bad genetics (for lack of better term) to her. I would feel so guilty if she were to ever find out that she has inherited it.
How can I quit worrying myself so much? Is it normal to be so worried or to feel guilty?

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:45:00 GMT
Open Question: would you support or refute this plan Taxing high-fat foods?
In the United States, many states now impose taxes on tobacco to discourage smoking and to help offset the health costs associated with smoking. However, heart disease, which has been linked to a high-fat diet, is the country?s number one killer. Taxing high-fat foods would be a great way to reduce the incidence of heart disease and help offset the cost of its treatment. The taxes could also be used to educate the public to the dangers of a high-fat diet, in the same way that taxes on cigarettes are used for antismoking ads.

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:23:13 GMT

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