ATRIAL SEPTAL DEFECT (ASD) AND VENTRICULAR SEPTAL DEFECT (VSD) - Assignment Example

Atrial Septal Defect and Ventricular Septal Defect Definitions and Difference Atrial Septal Defect frequently de d, as ASD is a congenital heart defect where an abnormal hole exists in between the two upper chambers of the heart recurrently known as atria. Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) on the other hand refers to a cardiovascular disease where a septum is existent between the two lower compartments of the heart (CDC, 2014). The difference between these two conditions, therefore, is the fact that one affects the articles whereas the other affects the ventricles.

Conditions in ChildrenASD Symptoms: The symptoms exhibited by children who suffer from ASD are routinely determined by the size of the defect and its location. Although most of the children with smaller ASDs appear healthy and grow normally, those with larger ASDs habitually exhibit reduced appetite and growth, frequent fatigue, shortness of breath and persistent lung infections. Additionally, such children are highly susceptible to conditions such as pneumonia. Treatment: Treatment of ASD in children similarly depends on the age of the child, size of the ASD and its location (Adler et al., 2014). Small ASD defects routinely close on their own as the child grows while there is always the need to perform open-heart surgeries and cardiac catheterization in order to rectify the condition in case the defect is large.

VSD Symptoms: Cardiovascular specialists are often able to detect VSD over the first few trips the infant makes to the hospital because of an irregular murmur within the heart (Penny et al., 2011). Apart from that, children who suffer from the condition often fail to thrive because they do not eat due to lack of appetite. Similarly, such children regularly tire quickly and suffer several instances of breathlessness due to faster breathing rates. Treatment: Treatment of VSD heavily relies on the size of the hole and, the age of the child and its location.

Health experts routinely carry out open-heart surgeries to remedy the condition. The same applies to cardiac catheterization.Conditions in AdultsASD Symptoms: In adults, the indicators of the condition are shortness of breath, notably when exercising and recurrent fatigue. The victims will similarly exhibit swelling of various body parts including the abdomen and legs, skipped heartbeats, frequent lung infections, and stroke. Treatment: Health providers recommend the use of anticoagulant drugs and medications that keep the heartbeat regular.

For medium and large sized defects, doctors routinely recommend open-heart surgeries, for that ensures no future complications. VSD Symptoms: Adults who suffer from VSDs experience instances of shortness of breath and fatigue. Similarly, they go through cases of arrhythmia, which refers to irregular heartbeats and valve defects. Pulmonary hypertension is in like manner a symptom of VSDs in adults. Treatment: Treatment of VSDs in adults heavily depends on the size of the hole and the location.

Doctors monitor the condition by administering drugs that restore the normal heart rates (Wilkins et al., 2015). That notwithstanding, doctors routinely perform heart surgeries, as they ensure that the condition does not bring about further complications.ReferencesAdler, D. H., Ellis, R. A., & Willis, W. P. (2014, December 19). Atrial Septal Defect . Medscape. (Problem). Retrieved from: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/162914-overview. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014, July 10).

Retrieved from Centers for Disease Control Website: www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/heartdefects/ventricularseptaldefect.html. Penny, J. D., & Vick, W. G. (2011, March 26). Ventricular septal defect. The Lancet, 377, 9771, 1103-1112. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(10)61339-6Wilkins, R. M., Ghofrani, H., Weissman, N., Aldashev, A., & Zhao, L. (2015, February). Recent Advancement in Pulmonary Hypertension. American Heart Association, 2015; 131:582-590. Doi: http://10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.114.006977