4 Effective Treatments for Pediatric Heart Conditions

If your child is displaying symptoms of high blood pressure or other heart conditions such as a heart defect, it’s important to have them be evaluated and treated in order to prevent further complications.

Thankfully, there are many effective treatments available when it comes to managing heart conditions and their symptoms. 

Nauman Ahmad, MD, FAAP, and the rest of our team at Pediatrician Specialty Practices located in Federal Way, Washington, has over 10 years of experience when it comes to diagnosing and treating pediatric heart conditions. In this blog, we explore more information about common heart conditions in children and how we treat them.

How to tell if your child has a heart condition

Some common heart conditions that children can have include a congenital heart defect or high blood pressure. 

Congenital heart defects are present at birth but may not be detected until later childhood or even adolescence. Symptoms of a congenital heart defect can vary widely depending on age and the severity of the defect, but these are some common symptoms to look out for:

• Blue-ish lips, skin, and nails
• Excessive sleepiness
• Trouble breathing or quick breathing
• Unusual tiredness after exercise
• Weak pulse or pounding heartbeat
• Heart murmurs

High blood pressure often doesn’t present with symptoms in children and is diagnosed through a series of tests and procedures. However, in severe cases, high blood pressure can have the following symptoms in your child:

• Headaches
• Seizures
• Vomiting
• Chest pains
• Heart palpitations

If your child does experience any of these symptoms, seek medical help immediately.

How we treat pediatric heart conditions

At Pediatrician Specialty Practices, Dr. Ahmad offers a few different treatment options for your child’s heart condition. The specific one that your child will need depends on the type and severity of your child’s diagnosis.

1. Lifestyle changes

Making some lifestyle changes like getting consistent exercise, eating a heart-healthy diet low in sodium, and maintaining a healthy weight are great ways to reduce your child’s blood pressure.

2. Medications

Taking certain medications can help to reduce your child’s blood pressure or reduce the risks of serious complications with different heart defects. 

3. Heart procedures

Dr. Ahmad may refer you to a specialist in the area to repair any damage that’s a result of your child’s heart defect.

4. Transplant

While only used in severe cases, heart transplants can be your child’s best chance for optimum health and well-being.

If your child needs excellent care for a heart condition, look no further than the expert team at Pediatrician Specialty Practices. To set up an appointment with us, you can give us a call at 253-661-5939 or use our online booking tool today.