Congenital Heart Diseases
According to the American Heart Association, congenital heart disease is the most common birth defect in the United States. Congenital heart disease occurs when there is a problem with the structure and function of one or more parts of the heart.
Ventricular tachycardia is one type of congenital heart disease. Ventricular tachycardia is a heart rhythm disorder that originates in the ventricles, the heart’s lower chambers. When ventricular tachycardia occurs, the ventricles beat faster than they should. This can cause the heart to pump less effectively and may lead to sudden cardiac death.
There are several ways that congenital heart disease can lead to ventricular tachycardia. One is via scarring of the myocardium, the middle layer of the heart wall. Several things, including infection, inflammation, and direct injury to the heart tissue can cause scarring. The scarring can disrupt the electrical signals that cause the ventricles to contract, leading to ventricular tachycardia.
Another way congenital heart disease can cause ventricular tachycardia is by obstructing blood flow through the ventricles. This obstruction can be due to various factors, such as a blockage of the valves or arteries leading to the ventricles.
