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 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
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute offers guidelines to help keep your child's heart healthy. Learn what lifestyle changes can help protect your child from cardiovascular disease.
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.
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/
