Let's Talk About Congenital Heart Defects!

1 in 100 children are born with a form of CHD, but many know little about CHD. Let's learn together!

Brittani B

As most people know, February is heart month; lets take the time to talk about Congenital Heart Defects.

I was born with one,Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return type 3. I had my 1st open heart surgery at less than a day old. I've had 4 major open heart surgeries total, and will most likely need another surgery or even heart/lung transplant in the future. Spreading the awareness about Congenital Heart defects. and now Adults with Congenital Heart defects is quite important to me.

What is congenital heart defect ? Congenital heart defect is a type of defect in one or more structures of the heart or blood vessels that occur before birth. The heart structures, or vessels, do not form as they should during pregnancy, while the fetus is developing in the uterus.

How many congenital heart defects are there? Their's almost 40 different defects total. Like myself, some children can even be born with more than 1 defect.

How is it treated ? Sometimes Open Heart surgery is required soon after birth, while others are older. Of course medications helps as well. Having CHD we need to be seen by a Peds CHD Cardio Dr at least once a year, but like myself,some are needed to be seen more often. We have regular testing done like EKG , Cardio Echo , EventHolter monitor, Exercise stress testHeart Catheterizationamong other testing to be done in order to treat the patient correctly. Other than a heart cath, some of these can be done yearly.

CHD is actually the most common defect that a baby can be born with, but it's one of the least known about and even funded defects out there. So lets change that !

CHD is life long. Despite having 4 open heart surgeries myself, I'm not cured and will never be cured. The same goes for all children born with CHD.

It's also an "invisible" defect. If you'd see me in the store you'd probably think I was healthy. Which is good and bad. Do I want to look sick ? No, however just because I look fine, doesn't mean I am. My defect effects a big part of my life, I have low energy, I get sick a lot, I get short of breath by just sitting and talking. I'm 25, and due to my defect I can't work. If more people would be aware of CHD and it's effects, we wouldn't be viewed as "lazy."

While some people might know about CHD, what's less commonly known is Adult Congenital Heart Defects. More than ever before children with CHD are growing into Adulthood. We were told that I wouldn't see adulthood, but I turned 25 last July. ACHD is tricky because while their are adults living with it now, drs are still learning the progression of each defects. Adults with CHD can not see a regular cardiologist, for our safety we need to see an accredited ACHD Cardio Dr. At the moment the US does not have enough of these Drs to properly see adults with CHD. But thanks to the amazing work of Adult Congenital Heart Association that is changing.

Thank you for reading. Share this. Talk about CHD/ACHD. And go check out Mended little hearts and Adult Congential Heart Association

When sharing info/graphics about CHD use the following hastags 1in100 / CHD / CHDweek / ACHD / Congenitalheartdefects / CHDaware

Brittani B