General Overview A congenital heart defect is a heart problem that has been present since before birth. Other terms used to describe this condition include congenital heart disease and congenital cardiovascular disease . Congenital heart defects occur in just under one out of every 100 births.  There are many different types of congenital heart defects. Some of the more common types are listed below.
Diagnostic and Surgical Procedures
Living With Congenital Heart Defects Treating congenital heart defects: two devices offer an alternative to surgery The CardioSEAL Septal Occlusion System and the Amplatzer Septal Occluder are two devices that can be used to repair holes in the heart when a child cannot undergo surgery. Your heart health: what family history tells you Your mother has cardiovascular disease, and your nephew was recently diagnosed with a congenital heart defect. Whether it's a heart defect that has been present since birth, or heart disease that develops later in life, heart-related conditions often run in the family. | Preventing Congenital Heart Defects
Research shows that risk factors for cardiovascular disease are occurring at alarmingly increasing rates among children and young adults. In response to this crisis, the American Heart Association has published a set of guidelines designed to help physicians and parents take steps to begin preventing cardiovascular disease as early as childhood.
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can put your baby at risk for a variety of birth defects. Since there is no known safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy, it is best to abstain entirely. Related Conditions |
