Biological Approach
The first approach we will look at is the Biological approach, which is what many of us consider to be modern medicine. This is the doctors that we see along with their tests and diagnosis. In this country we listen completely to what they have to say because they studied for years and know the science behind the human body. A normal individual would not be able to read an ultra sound and tell the difference between a baby with a normal functioning heart and one with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. I know this illness all to well because my younger brother was born with this condition, he was one of the fortunate ones that went through all three procedures and came out fine, unlike poor Ryan pictured above who did not make it though the recovery of the first procedure.. Although my brother still needs to get check ups on an annual basis to chart his progress, not only to see where he stands but also to record data because this is still a relatively new procedure. When my brother was born they had only been doing the Norwood procedure for a couple of years, Had he been born before then even with the knowledge of his condition they would have just sent him home to die peacefully. Below is a video explaining the structure of heart with this condition so you can better understand what is going on with this heart defect.
Ecological Approach
Another way to look at this disease is through the Ecological approach, where you look at contributing factors like location, culture, and resources available. Just like the picture to the left which shows the concentration of cases of hypoplastic left heart syndrome in different states through out the United States. These concentrations could be explained in a couple of ways, one is that generally speaking the areas that have the high concentration of this disease are the areas of the country that have higher population concentrations. This in of itself would give those areas a greater chance of having more people with the condition. But with this being such a rare condition it is also thought that there could be a genetic link to these concentrations where it could be passed down through heredity not presenting itself but only on rare occasions. But ultimately there is no definite answer as to what causes this disease, weather it is genetic or environmental the source of hypoplastic left heart syndrome is still unknown.
Bibliography
image: Research Centres http://www.sgul.ac.uk/research/centres accessed August 14, 2013
image: memorial garden http://www.tchin.org/garden/ accessed August 15, 2013
image: medical residency http://edconsultations.com/blog/additional-services/residencies/ accessed August 15, 2013
image: "hypoplastic left heart syndrome" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypoplastic_left_heart_syndrome accessed August 15, 2013
image: "hypoplastic left heart syndrome" http://www.textmed.com/disease/hypoplastic-left-heart-syndrome.htm accessed August 15, 2013
"The structure of a heart with hypoplastic left heart syndrome" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXaEqfS34sE accessed August 16, 2013
image: Research Centres http://www.sgul.ac.uk/research/centres accessed August 14, 2013
image: memorial garden http://www.tchin.org/garden/ accessed August 15, 2013
image: medical residency http://edconsultations.com/blog/additional-services/residencies/ accessed August 15, 2013
image: "hypoplastic left heart syndrome" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypoplastic_left_heart_syndrome accessed August 15, 2013
image: "hypoplastic left heart syndrome" http://www.textmed.com/disease/hypoplastic-left-heart-syndrome.htm accessed August 15, 2013
"The structure of a heart with hypoplastic left heart syndrome" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXaEqfS34sE accessed August 16, 2013