For the entire month of February, we are focusing on all things related to your heart in honor of American Heart Month. This week we want to talk about congenital heart defects, also known as CHDs. Congenital heart defects are problems present at birth and can affect the structure of a baby’s heart and the way it works. It is America’s most common type of birth defect, affecting about 7,200 babies every year. Congenital heart defects vary from mild, such as a small hole in the heart, to severe, such as missing or poorly formed parts of the heart. While you can’t always prevent a congenital heart defect, you can take steps to learn about CHDs and lower you and your baby’s risk.
What causes CHD?
The causes of congenital heart defects among most babies are unknown. Only 15-20% of all CHDs are related to known genetic conditions. Most are said to be a combination of genes and other factors, such as things in the environment, the mother’s diet, the mother’s health conditions, or the mother’s medication use during pregnancy. For example, certain conditions like pre-existing diabetes or obesity, smoking during pregnancy, as well as taking certain medications have been linked to heart defects. Because the heart is formed so early in pregnancy, the damage may happen before most women even know they are pregnant. That’s why knowing these risk factors before a pregnancy is crucial.
What are the symptoms of CHD?
Signs and symptoms for congenital heart defects depend on the type and severity of the particular defect. Many severe congenital heart defects are often detected soon after birth. Some symptoms include blue-tinted nails or lips, rapid breathing, fatigue, and poor feeding. Other defects might have few or no signs or symptoms at all. Ask your pediatrician if you have concerns, especially if you have a family history of congenital heart defects.
What is the diagnosis and screening process?
Some congenital heart defects may be diagnosed during pregnancy using a special type of ultrasound called a fetal echocardiogram, which creates ultrasound pictures of the heart of the developing baby. However, not all heart defects are found during pregnancy. In these cases, heart defects may be detected at birth or as the child ages. Newborn screenings can identify some of these babies so they can receive prompt care and treatment.
How is CHD treated?
Treatment for congenital heart defects depend on the type and severity of the defect present. Not everyone with a CHD needs treatment. Some may only need to visit a cardiologist for observation. However, in other cases, it may be necessary for the baby or child to undergo procedures or surgeries to repair the heart or blood vessels.
Living with CHD
It is estimated that more than two million individuals in the United States are living with a congenital heart defect. Many are going on to lead independent lives with little or no difficulty. People with a CHD need routine checkups with a cardiologist to stay as healthy as possible. They also might need further operations after initial childhood surgeries. It is important for parents of children with a heart defect and adults living with a heart defect to talk with a cardiologist regularly.
Remember, it’s important to take care of your heart and the hearts of your loved ones! Heart disease is the leading cause of death is the United States. It’s time to put an increased focus on loving and keeping your heart healthy. And since February is American Heart Month, now is a perfect time to get started.
Source
https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/congenital-heart-defects
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/heartdefects/index.html
https://mendedhearts.org/story/chd-facts-and-statistics/