Congential Heart Defects materials - A

Form Approved
OMB No: 0920-0956
Exp. Date: March 31, 2016

Things you Need to Know About Congenital Heart Defects
Did you know that congenital
heart defects are common?
► Congenital heart defects are
conditions present at birth that
affect how a baby’s heart is made
and the way it works. They are the
most common type of birth defects.
In the United States, about 40,000 infants are born with a
heart defect each year .

Did you know that some
heart defects can be
diagnosed before birth,
some at birth or some can
be diagnosed after a baby
leaves the hospital?
► Some congenital heart defects
can be found before birth. Knowing if a baby has a heart
defect before birth can help families plan for the future.
Some heart defects can be found at birth, because they
can cause a baby to have bluish tinted nails or lips or
troubled breathing. Others might have no signs at birth
and are not found until later in life, during childhood or
even adulthood. If a health care provider (a doctor or
nurse) thinks a congenital heart defect is present, the
baby can have several tests to diagnose the defect.

Did you know that congenital
heart defects can greatly
affect the finances not only
of the families involved, but
of everyone?
► In the United States, hospital
costs for people with a heart
defect were about $1.4 billion in one year. Families and
the government share the burden of these costs, which
means that all taxpayers are affected. Other costs due
to lost wages or work limitations can affect families and
businesses as well.

Did you know
that people
with congenital
heart defects are
living longer?
► As medical care and
treatments have
advanced, infants with a
congenital heart defect
are living longer and healthier lives. Many now are
living into adulthood. About one million adults in the
United States are living with a congenital heart defect.
It is important for children and adults living with a
congenital heart defect to see a heart doctor regularly
throughout their lives.

Did you know that some
congenital heart defects can
be prevented?
► The cause of most congenital
heart defects is unknown. Some
babies have heart defects because
of changes in their genes or
chromosomes. They also might be caused by a mix of
genes and other risk factors. The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention’s National Birth Defects
Prevention Study has found that women who are obese,
have diabetes, or smoke during pregnancy increase their
chances of having a baby born with a heart defect. A
woman can take some important steps before and during
pregnancy to help prevent congenital heart defects. She
can work to get to and stay at a healthy weight, control
diagnosed diabetes, quit smoking, and take folic acid
daily. These actions can reduce the risk of having a baby
with a congenital heart defect.

For more information, visit http://www.address/here

National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
Division of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
CS228596

This fact sheet was developed in partnership with the National Birth Defects Prevention Network (NBDPN).