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Congenital Heart Defects Center

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

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

Image for children's heart health article AHA guidelines for children’s heart health

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.

Image for alcohol and diet The dangers of drinking for two: alcohol and birth defects

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

Resources

American Heart Association http://www.americanheart.org/
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
Texas Heart Institute http://www.tmc.edu/thi/

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This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.