[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”What Is Congenital Heart Disease?” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:inherit|color:%23007df3″][vc_column_text font_size=”18px” color=”#000000″]Congenital heart disease, or a congenital heart defect, is a heart abnormality present at birth. The problem can affect:
- the heart walls
- the heart valves
- the blood vessels
There are numerous types of congenital heart defects. They can range from simple conditions that don’t cause symptoms to complex problems that cause severe, life-threatening symptoms.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”4519″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Types of Congenital Heart Disease” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:inherit|color:%23007df3″][vc_column_text font_size=”18px” color=”#000000″]Though there are many different types of congenital heart defects, they can be divided into three main categories:
- In heart valve defects, the valves inside the heart that direct blood flow may close up or leak. This interferes with the heart’s ability to pump blood correctly.
- In heart wall defects, the natural walls that exist between the left and right sides and the upper and lower chambers of the heart may not develop correctly, causing blood to back up into the heart or to build up in places where it doesn’t belong. The defect puts pressure on the heart to work harder, which may result in high blood pressure.
- In blood vessel defects, the arteries and veins that carry blood to the heart and back out to the body may not function correctly. This can reduce or block blood flow, leading to various health complications.
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- Bluish lips, skin, fingers, and toes
- Breathlessness or trouble breathing
- Feeding difficulties
- Low birth weight
- Chest pain
- Delayed growth
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- Abnormal heart rhythms
- Dizziness
- Trouble breathing
- Fainting
- Swelling
- Fatigue
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- The heart defect may run in families.
- Taking certain prescription drugs during pregnancy puts a child at a higher risk for a heart defect.
- Using alcohol or illegal drugs during pregnancy can increase a child’s risk of having a heart defect.
- Mothers who had a viral infection during the first trimester of pregnancy are more likely to give birth to a child with a heart defect.
- Increased blood sugar levels, such as occurs with diabetes, may affect childhood development.
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