Congenital Heart Defect Speech
Congenital (kon-JEN-ih-tal) heart defects are problems with the heart's structure that are present at birth. These defects can involve:
The interior walls of the heart
The valves inside the heart
The arteries and veins that carry blood to the heart or the body
Congenital heart defects change the normal flow of blood through the heart.
There are many types of congenital heart defects. They range from simple defects with no symptoms to complex defects with severe, life-threatening symptoms.
Congenital heart defects are the most common type of birth defect. They affect 8 out of every 1,000 newborns. Each year, more than 35,000 babies in the United States are born with congenital heart defects.
Many of these defects are simple conditions. They …show more content…
As medical care and treatment have advanced, babies with a CHD are living longer and healthier lives. Learn more facts about CHDs below.
What are Congenital Heart Defects (CHDs)?
CHDs are present at birth and can affect the structure of a baby’s heart and the way it works. They can affect how blood flows through the heart and out to the rest of the body. CHDs can vary from mild (such as a small hole in the heart) to severe (such as missing or poorly formed parts of the heart).
About 1 in 4 babies born with a heart defect has a critical CHD (also known as critical congenital heart disease).1 Babies with a critical CHD need surgery or other procedures in the first year of life.
Piper's Story
Piper was born with a congenital heart defect(CHD). Read her story as well as other stories from families affected by a congenital heart defect »
Types
Listed below are examples of different types of CHDs. The types marked with a star (*) are considered critical …show more content…
People with a CHD can develop other health problems over time, depending on their specific heart defect, the number of heart defects they have, and the severity of their heart defect. For example, some other health problems that might develop include irregular heart beat (arrhythmias), increased risk of infection in the heart muscle (infective endocarditis), or weakness in the heart (cardiomyopathy). People with a CHD need routine checkups with a cardiologist (heart doctor) to stay as healthy as possible. They also might need further operations after initial childhood surgeries. It is important for people with a CHD to visit their doctor on a regular basis and discuss their health, including their specific heart condition, with their
The interior walls of the heart
The valves inside the heart
The arteries and veins that carry blood to the heart or the body
Congenital heart defects change the normal flow of blood through the heart.
There are many types of congenital heart defects. They range from simple defects with no symptoms to complex defects with severe, life-threatening symptoms.
Congenital heart defects are the most common type of birth defect. They affect 8 out of every 1,000 newborns. Each year, more than 35,000 babies in the United States are born with congenital heart defects.
Many of these defects are simple conditions. They …show more content…
As medical care and treatment have advanced, babies with a CHD are living longer and healthier lives. Learn more facts about CHDs below.
What are Congenital Heart Defects (CHDs)?
CHDs are present at birth and can affect the structure of a baby’s heart and the way it works. They can affect how blood flows through the heart and out to the rest of the body. CHDs can vary from mild (such as a small hole in the heart) to severe (such as missing or poorly formed parts of the heart).
About 1 in 4 babies born with a heart defect has a critical CHD (also known as critical congenital heart disease).1 Babies with a critical CHD need surgery or other procedures in the first year of life.
Piper's Story
Piper was born with a congenital heart defect(CHD). Read her story as well as other stories from families affected by a congenital heart defect »
Types
Listed below are examples of different types of CHDs. The types marked with a star (*) are considered critical …show more content…
People with a CHD can develop other health problems over time, depending on their specific heart defect, the number of heart defects they have, and the severity of their heart defect. For example, some other health problems that might develop include irregular heart beat (arrhythmias), increased risk of infection in the heart muscle (infective endocarditis), or weakness in the heart (cardiomyopathy). People with a CHD need routine checkups with a cardiologist (heart doctor) to stay as healthy as possible. They also might need further operations after initial childhood surgeries. It is important for people with a CHD to visit their doctor on a regular basis and discuss their health, including their specific heart condition, with their