Final answer:
Heart defects lead to impaired growth and development, decrease in life expectancy, and require immediate medical intervention, often involving surgery and medication. Proper cell communication during heart development is crucial, with defects resulting in conditions like Tetralogy of Fallot, which necessitates extensive surgical repair for increased survival rates.
Step-by-step explanation:
Heart defects can cause impaired growth and development and decreased life expectancy. They require immediate and ongoing medical intervention.
The human heart consists of different cell types such as myocardium and endocardium, which must communicate properly during development. Abnormal communication may lead to defects like cardiac hypertrophy, weakening the heart over time. Conditions such as the congenital Tetralogy of Fallot can also cause oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood to mix, leading to cyanosis and numerous symptoms including heart murmurs, dyspnea, and clubbing of fingers. These conditions necessitate extensive surgical repair to enhance survival rates, which can be significantly lower without treatment. Optimal care often involves a combination of medications, surgeries including valve replacements or patches, and the use of stents.
Treating severe defects like Tetralogy of Fallot or valvular heart disease early can help ameliorate symptoms and improve life expectancy, but they can still result in cases such as 'blue baby syndrome' where babies have low oxygenation, manifesting as cyanotic or blue skin. Lifestyle choices, along with genetics, play a role in the prevention and management of heart disease, suggesting the importance of both medical intervention and healthy living.