Development And Intricacies Of The Heart

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EKG Class

When expecting a baby, parents hope their child is born with ten tiny toes, ten little fingers, the perfect little button nose, and a smile made out of gold. Most may not think about the vital development and intricacies of their baby's heart. Once the baby is born, parent’s uncertainties may be laid to rest as technology has provided the world with multiple means of being able to detect the most miniscule of abnormalities. One of which includes the electrocardiogram as this device is able to monitor and record the electrical impulses the heart is generating. With the addition of this device, a doctor can detect abnormal rhythms in the heart. By using machines such as the electrocardiogram, examining heart murmurs, and aortic stenosis, the parent will be able to be informed and prepared for any ailments of the heart a child may develop.

A heart murmur is when the valves of the heart do not close all the way; allowing some blood to flow through the valves when the valves should stop the flow. Doctors are able to hear a swooshing sound with the aid of a stethoscope. (Valvular Heart Disease website) indicates, "the S1 is usually normal or soft. The S2 may be single because the aortic and pulmonic valve components are superimposed or the aortic valve component is absent or soft and the S4 may be audible because of a vigorous atrial contraction." Heart murmurs can be detected in an individual as early as at the time of birth or during early childhood. There are two types of heart murmurs: innocent and abnormal. Innocent murmurs are not caused by an actual problem with the heart or by any other condition, nor does this type require any medication. Sometimes pregnant women will have an innocent heart murmur due to the increas...

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... such as the EKG. Not only can the parent be informed of any ailments, but the doctor can better prepare, and inform the parent of ways to possibly fix the underlying ailment. EKG machines are an excellent advancement of our time and will aid to countless discoveries in the medical field.

References
Maganti, K., Rigolin, V. H., Sarano, M. E., & Bonow, R. O. (2010, May). Valvular Heart Disease: Diagnosis and Management. Retrieved February 25, 2014, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2861980/
Staff, H. (2012, July 6). Heart Murmur - Good Health by Seton. Retrieved February 26, 2014, from http://www.goodhealth.com/health_a_to_z/health_library/health_topics/heart_problems/heart_murmur/
Tidy, C. (2012, June 11). Aortic Stenosis - what are the causes? | Patient.co.uk. Retrieved February 26, 2014, from http://www.patient.co.uk/health/aortic-stenosis-leaflet

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