What are Congenital Heart Defects?
Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) is the most commonly occurring congenital disorder. It is a structural heart disease in children which leads to circulatory and respiratory issues.
With a birth prevalence of 9/1000, an estimated 200,000+ children are born with CHD in India in a year alone. Depending on the severity of the condition, the child might need immediate medical intervention or medical treatment that spans the course of a few years.
The treatment for hole in heart in infants and children maybe done through a surgery, or can be done through device closure, depending on the type of heart defect.
Regardless of the degree of the disorder, there are some precautionary measures that must be taken when it comes to children suffering from CHD, their diet being one of the most crucial factors that affects their health.
Nutrition and Diet (link this to Food for the heart – Blog (genesis-foundation.net))
Most children with heart disease tend to gain weight more slowly than their peers. This is because due to the presence of the CHD, the heart has to exert to pump blood, the body requires more calories to keep up. Their fast metabolism tends to burn up calories a lot quicker in comparison to a child whose heart is functioning without any defects.
If the child is being breastfed, adding supplements to the breast milk may be advised to increase the caloric intake of the child.
Once heart disease in children is diagnosed, your child’s treating doctor or nutritionist will help develop a plan for your child’s nutrient intake but a few rules of thumb to remember are:-
- Empty calories will do no good.
- High calorie snacks are a great source of energy.
- Reduce sugar intake.
- Feed whole grain rather than refined grains.
- Reduce saturated fat intake.
- Limit the consumption of salt.
Children suffering from CHD are often quite frail and fragile looking, this is mainly because of malabsorption where the intestines are not able to properly absorb the nutrients from the food due to the lack of oxygen reaching them. Hence, more frequent feedings are required for them.
Often times children who suffer from CHD may not have the energy to eat properly, they might complain about being full after a few bites, play around with their food or even require small breaks in between, this is all a part of the process, it is imperative for the parent to be patient and slowly but surely ensure that the child eats.
There is a high chance that your child might have to be fed through a feeding tube post-surgery, this is nothing to get alarmed over as it is a way to provide your child with direct and broken-down calories without them being worn out due to the process of eating.
- Liquids should be avoided, and more solid/semi solid food should be given.
- Calorie packed foods should be given frequently in small quantities.
- Protein packed foods like eggs, chicken, pulses, meat and fish are good source of energy.
- While saturated fats are best not to be taken, omega-3 fatty acids are important for your child’s development.
- Junk food tends to contain empty calories so it is best to avoid.
Genesis Foundation (link to website) is a Child Heart Care Foundation that provides medical care and treatment for hole in heart in infants and for children under 18 years of age suffering from CHD. With over 30+ partner hospitals they strive to give every little heart a chance at a healthy life.
For more information on the work done by GF and their partnered hospitals visit their website at www.genesis-foundation.net
References
https://littlemoppetheartfoundation.org/diet-for-child-with-congenital-heart-disease/
