The word "congenital" means existing at birth. The terms "congenital heart defect" and "congenital heart disease" are often used to mean the same thing, but "defect" is more accurate. The heart ailment is a defect or abnormality, not a disease. A defect results when the heart, or blood vessels near the heart, don't develop normally before birth.
A normal heart has valves, arteries and chambers that carry the blood in a circulatory pattern: body-heart-lungs-heart-body. When all chambers and valves work correctly, the blood is pumped through the heart to the lungs for oxygen, back to the heart and out to the body for delivery of oxygen. When valves, chambers, arteries and veins are malformed, this circulatory pattern can be impaired—congenital heart defects are malformations that may or may not have a disruptive effect on a person's circulatory system.
Congenital heart defects range in severity from simple problems, such as "holes" between chambers of the heart, to very severe malformations, such as complete absence of one or more chambers or valves. There are generally three categories of possible childhood heart problems: structural defects, acquired damage and heart rhythm disturbances. These defects are usually diagnosed early in life.
Anyone can have a child with a congenital heart defect. More than1.3 million Americans alive today have some form of congenital heart defect. In the United States, about 40,000 children are born with a heart defect each year. This translates to the fact that at least 8 babies out of every 1,000 born each year have a congenital heart defect.
The causes of congenital heart disease are still under investigation, but scientists and physicians are making progress. Although the reason defects occur is presumed to be genetic, only a few genes have been discovered that have been linked to the presence of heart defects. So, they're likely due to a combination of multiple genetic and environmental factors. There's usually a 2 to 15 percent chance of a heart defect happening again in the family. The odds depend on what type of defect you have and whether anyone else in your family has a heart defect.
Some people with congenital heart defects have a specific genetic condition that can include other health problems. They may or may not know that they have such a condition. The chance for their child to also have this condition can be as high as 50 percent. These conditions can vary widely in their severity, so children may have less serious or more serious health problems than their parents.
Virtually all children with simple defects survive into adulthood. Although exercise capacity may be limited, most people lead normal or nearly normal lives. For more complex lesions, limitations are common.
Whether you were born with a congenital heart defect or not, keeping your heart functioning efficiently is key to maintaining overall health. Be sure to incorporate heart-healthy OMEGA+++ into your daily regimen!