(CHD) Congenital Heart Disease

♥ Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) is any structural problem that is present at birth when part of the heart or its major blood vessels aren’t formed properly. 

 ♥ They occur during the first 6 weeks after conception (the most significant time for heart development in the fetus) and often before the mother is aware that she is pregnant.  The heart does not form normally and defects can develop in any part or parts of the heart and may result in abnormal blood flow through the heart after the baby is born. 

 ♥ In most cases we do not know what causes CHD.  Some defects are inherited (i.e. the genetic blueprint for the heart is abnormal) while others are caused by something that interferes with the normal formation of heart tissue. 

 ♥ Examples of CHD are holes between two of the chambers, valves that are not formed properly and chambers or blood vessels that are abnormally small, missing or in the wrong location.

 ♥ CHD is the most common birth defect and is the number one cause of death from birth defects in the first year of life.  The good news is that children born with CHD today are more likely than ever to overcome the problem and live well into adulthood.