Congenital heart defects
Congenital heart defects are problems with the heart’s structure that are present at birth. Also called a birth defect, it is a problem that happens while a baby is developing inside of the mother's body before birth. Most birth defects happen during the first three months of pregnancy. One out of every 33 babies in the United States is born with a birth defect.
Congenital heart defects are the most common type of birth defect, affecting eight of every 1,000 newborns. Each year, more than 35,000 babies in the United States are born with congenital heart defects. Most of these defects are simple conditions that are easily fixed or need no treatment at all. A small number of babies are born with complex congenital heart defects that need special medical attention soon after birth. Over the past few decades, the diagnosis and treatment of these complex defects has greatly improved. As a result, many children with complex heart defects grow to adulthood and can live active, productive lives.
There are many different types of congenital heart defects. They range from simple defects with no symptoms to complex defects with severe, life-threatening illness. Most congenital heart defects involve the interior walls of the heart, the valves inside the heart, or the arteries and veins that carry blood to the heart or out to the body. Congenital heart defects change the normal flow of blood through the heart. This can result in blood flowing too fast, too slow, or in the wrong direction. Most people with complex heart defects continue to need special heart care throughout their life.
Today in the United States, about 1 million adults are living with congenital heart defects. Most cases of congenital heart defects can be treated medically or surgically, but cannot be prevented.