For me, the American Heart Association is not just about cardiac arrests and CPR; it's also about congenital heart disease and heart failure.
Most of you know from my last "Heart Walk", that I have a ventricular septal defect (VSD) which is an opening or hole (defect) in the wall (septum) separating the two lower chambers of the heart (ventricles).
As a child, I had frequent respiratory illnesses; but as I grew
As a child, I had frequent respiratory illnesses; but as I grew
into adulthood my VSD got smaller and now the only thing that stands out is that I have a loud murmur on physical examination. As a nursing student, my entire class was able to listen to this different heart sound!
In addition, my dad was recently diagnosed with wild-type transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRwt) is a form of cardiac amyloidosis, a disease where abnormal protein deposits in the heart can lead to restrictive cardiomyopathy. Thanks to organizations like AHA, research focuses on its diagnosis, management, and treatment. He is now on a medication called Tafamadis a medication that slows the progression of the disease.
I Walk to Save Lives for all types of heart diseases. Help me reach my goal today.
