Mario Ojeda, Jr.

Congenital what?

Awareness is an everyday discipline for safe and professional truck drivers. Awareness of our fellow motorists, awareness of our equipment and awareness of our cargo. Similarly, awareness of health issues is becoming an increasingly important aspect of our modern life. For that reason, health organizations and government health departments do their best to promote disease prevention via monthly advisories. For the month of February, some are addressing a condition known as congenital heart disease.
     Most commonly diagnosed in newborns, this disease is also found in adults. In fact, about one million adults in the United States are living with congenital heart disease. The main groups at risk for this condition are people with chromosomal or genetic abnormalities such as Down syndrome, and children born to mothers who took certain medications or abused alcohol or drugs during pregnancy. Additionally, mothers who experience a viral infection during pregnancy have children who may also be at risk throughout their lives. 
     Congenital heart disease is a condition in which the heart valves do not open or close correctly, leading to abnormal blood flow through the heart. It may also consist of an actual hole in the interior heart walls that separate the ventricles and chambers blood must pass through. In those cases, leakage causes the oxygenated blood coming from the lungs to improperly combine with the blood going back to the lungs and the rest of the body. Sometimes this hole may not be large enough to cause any complications and will close up on its own without any medical procedure. In other cases, treatment may involve medication, complex procedures and/or open-heart surgery. After preliminary examinations of heart murmurs and other symptoms, a doctor may order additional testing such as an electrocardiogram (EKG), chest X-ray, MRI, echocardiogram or cardiac catheterization.
     The symptoms associated with congenital heart disease range from heart murmurs, shortness of breath, the lack of ability to exercise and poor blood circulation. These symptoms can be detected shortly after birth or during childhood, but sometimes remain undetected until adulthood. However, it is also possible to have the defect and never show any symptoms at all. 
     It is of utmost importance that we be diligent in scheduling regular physical exams in order to catch any conditions we may not be aware of. By doing so, we can increase the possibility of correcting a developing health problem that may become harder to treat or even fatal. As goes the adage, “Why put off ‘til tomorrow what you can do today?” If staying aware of our rigs and our surroundings is critical, then what makes awareness of our health any less important? Most medical insurance available to us through our employers covers basic checkups and any treatments necessary.
     Until next time, keep your ticker ticking right!
     Mario Ojeda Jr. is a professional over-the-road driver.