Congenital heart defects (CHD) are the most common birth defect in America. It begins in utero when the blood vessels of the heart do not develop normally. This causes problems in the blood flow of the heart. During an ultrasound check up a doctor may use an echocardiogram, which creates ultrasound pictures of the heart, to determine if there are heart abnormalities. However, some babies are not diagnosed until after they are born. Some symptoms that a doctor looks for after birth are:

• Rapid breathing
• Fatigue when feeding
• Blue tinted fingers and toes

There are 18 different types of CHD’s some more critical than others. According to the American Heart Association ventricular septal defect accounts for about 20% of all CHD’s. This defect involves holes between the lower chambers of the heart and only requires open heart surgery if the child develops heart failure. Unfortunately the cause for CHD’s is still unknown, but it is more prevalent in pregnant mothers who are diabetic, obese, or smoke. Approximately 3 million people in the U.S are living with this condition and can live a relatively long life due to advancements in technology. In spite of the advancements, people with a congenital heart defect face lifelong risk of health problems such as issues with growth and eating, developmental delays, difficulty with exercise, heart rhythm problems, heart failure, sudden cardiac arrest or stroke. If you would like a second opinion on your treatment and diagnosis contact us at secondopinions.com for your peace of mind.

Having a copy of your medical images is important for a number of reasons. For example if your condition requires monitoring over time, it’s good to have a copy to compare studies to priors. When you have images performed in a new facility or when you are seeking a second opinion on a study

When a doctor has access to you medical images and reports, it provides him with the opportunity to

• Compare new studies with prior medical images
• Monitor conditions and abnormalities over time
• Avoid repeating tests you’ve already had

Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) you are guaranteed access to your medical images and reports. Images are kept and stored in the facility where you had your exams done. When you request your images, the facility may ask you to sign a release form. Facilities can deliver the images to patients in different formats, but usually done by CD.

If you are having a follow up study done, in a new facility take the CD with you so the doctor can do a thorough follow-up.Always, just in case, keep a copy.

If you are looking for a second opinion. You can upload the images from the CD directly to the website when using www.secondopinions.com