Congenital heart diseases or defects are conditions in which the structure of the heart does not form correctly during development as a baby grows within the mother’s uterus. The defects are present at birth.
Symptoms and characteristics:
The main types of congenital heart disease are abnormality of the heart valves and defects of the blood vessels. A number of conditions relate to the failure of a septum (opening) to close soon after birth, thus allowing blood to flow into the wrong areas of the heart. This can cause problems if not surgically corrected.
As congenital heart disease abnormalities are usually surgically corrected at an early age, many adults lead unaffected lives. However, some conditions are too risky for surgery with some people therefore possibly experiencing a number of common cardiac symptoms, including:
- dyspnea or shortness of breath and difficulty breathing
- palpitations which are an irregular, fluttering or skipping heartbeat
- chest pain.
People with congenital heart disease also have an increased risk of cardiac infection and stroke and may require additional surgery later in life.
Workplace adjustments and solutions:
In the workplace there are various factors that would greatly assist those with congenital heart disease that have ongoing cardiac symptoms. These include:
- avoidance of work involving heavy or strenuous activity
- job roles that allow for rotation between sitting and standing or for regular breaks
- consideration for sick leave if treatment, surgical intervention and recovery is required
- flexible work hours to allow for regular exercise as part of the overall symptom management plan
- education of colleagues or onsite first aid officer of action plan in case of emergency
- availability of healthy food options in workplace cafeterias.
(Adult Congenital Heart Association 2008; Heart Foundation 2008; Doherty & Way 2006)
There are solutions and adjustments for the following job requirements:
References:
Adult Congenital Heart Association 2008, Resource Centre: Congenital Heart Defects, Adult Congenital Heart Association, Philadelphia, viewed 21 January 2009, <http://www.achaheart.org/resource/icon_cheartdefects.php>.
Doherty, G. M. & Way, L.W. 2006, Current Surgical Diagnosis and Treatment, 12th Edition, Chapter 19B, The Heart: Congenital Heart Disease, The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc., Texas.
Heart Foundation 2008, Congenital Heart Diseases Fact Sheet, National Heart Foundation of Australia, viewed 21 January 2009, <http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/Congenital%20Heart%20Diseases%20Web.pdf>.