Guide To The Symptoms Of Truncus Arteriosus

Poor Feeding And Growth

Individuals with truncus arteriosus often exhibit poor feeding and growth as a result of their heart defect. Poor feeding can be best defined as a lack of appetite or not consuming a sufficient amount of calories regularly. Because mostly oxygen-poor blood is circulating around the body in these individuals, the tissues around the body do not get enough oxygen to carry out normal metabolic processes. A primary cellular process is the conversion of nutrients into usable energy or ATP. Without sufficient cellular energy, the body tissues the cells make up will not work as they should. The impairment of this mechanism can cause an affected individual to not have enough energy to eat properly regularly. Poor growth occurs when an individual does not grow in terms of weight and height according to their age. Poor growth happens as a combination of poor feeding and a higher rate of metabolism for the few calories that are metabolized. The result of this is the patient continuously burns off more calories than they are consuming. When the cells in the body run out of calories to metabolize into usable energy, they start breaking down and metabolizing the patient's fat stores. This depletion of fat stores also contributes to the patient's poor growth.

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Excessive Sleepiness

Excessive sleepiness is a common manifestation of truncus arteriosus. When the feeling of tiredness interferes with an individual's ability to function normally, it means the body is shutting itself down to preserve energy. The body becomes tired and fatigued when it runs out of the cellular energy required for it to function as it should. Consistent low blood oxygen levels cause a decreased production of cellular energy, and this leads to poor function of the organ systems around the body. Also, poor oxygen delivery to the bones can result in the reduced capacity of the bone marrow responsible for the production of new blood cells. A reduced amount of functional blood cells further compounds the body's inability to deliver sufficient amounts of oxygen to its tissues. The body has a natural mechanism that attempts to preserve energy for essential organ system functions by the secretion of certain substances that cause an individual to feel tired and sluggish. This mechanism allows the body to use its energy on cellular repair, cell production, and other essential functions instead of on the individual's physical and mental activities. The lack of energy itself in combination with the body's response to it are what cause the patient to be excessively sleepy.

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