Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) is a common congenital disability within the heart’s structure. Also known as a congenital heart defect, it is mainly known for changing the way blood flows through your heart, and its symptoms might range from mild to severe. While some may not necessarily prove fatal, others can cause life-threatening complications. Patients with Congenital Heart Disease often require multiple interventions throughout their lifetime ranging from surgical and medical procedures to mental health therapies.
Mental Health Disorders in Patients with CHD
Patients with CHD often face multiple mental health troubles, such as sociocultural impacts and other stressful life events. On the other hand, children with CHD show potential signs of learned helplessness and negative information processing. It has been seen that both many adolescents and adults with complex CHD suffer from parental mental health disorders, prematurity, and prolonged hospitalizations. As a result, complex CHD causes both anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders. Wondering where to find the best individual and family counseling for Congenital Heart Disease? Get in touch with the therapists at Heart and mind counseling.
Effects of Congenital Heart Disease Anxiety On The heart
It’s been proven that patients who have gone through a significant number of heart operations are likely to show an increased risk for having psychiatric diagnoses and behavioral disorders. Though the physical symptoms of surgery are traumatic, the mental impacts can be even more deteriorating. Also, individuals already suffering from the existing cardiac disease may seek expert individual counseling for adults from Heart and mind counseling. Anxiety is also proven to have an association with severe heart disorders and cardiac risk factors as follows:
- Tachycardia or Rapid Heart Rate
A heart rate that’s too fast, in severe cases tachycardia, can increase the risk of sudden cardiac arrest. The rapid heart rate generally means more than 100 beats per minute. This condition interferes with normal heart function and causes an abnormally fast heart rate.
- Decreased Heart Rate Variability
Due to hypertension and heart disease, patients are likely to face reduced heart rate variability. And due to Decreased heart rate variability after an acute heart attack, patients can also face a higher incidence of death
- Increased Blood Pressure
Continuous episodes of anxiety can cause a dramatic rise in your blood pressure. Anxiety also increases systemic vascular resistance, sympathetic activity, and increased blood pressure. Especially if it’s chronic anxiety, it can lead to the weakening of the heart muscle, coronary disease, and even heart failure as well.
Conclusion
Different Congenital Heart Disease Anxiety types range from Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and panic disorders. If you or your loved one has Congenital Heart Disease, you can contact Heart and Mind Counseling for individual therapy or a group therapy session. With trained Heart and Mind Counseling therapists, you can get access to affordable yet professional group counseling sessions and manage your day-to-day challenges of Congenital Heart Disease.
