Congenital heart defects

Congenital heart defects are among the most common forms of congenital malformations. More than 32,000 babies are born each year with some form of heart disease (1 in 125-150). The defect may be so mild that its effects do not appear for many years or until adulthood, while in other cases the defect may require immediate attention.

Although heart defects are the leading cause of death associated with birth defects, advances in medicine over the past few decades have dramatically increased the chances of survival.

Congenital heart defects are sometimes also referred to as congenital heart defects, heart defects, and congenital cardiovascular defects.

What is a congenital heart defect?

Congenital heart disease is a structural heart problem present at birth, whether inherited or caused by the environment. The baby's heart begins to develop early and does not begin to beat until 22 days after conception.

Between 22 and 24 days, the heart begins to tilt to the right and curl up into a loop. By day 28, the tube has the general shape of a heart with chambers and blood vessel structures in place. It is during this period of development that structural defects can occur. These defects can affect different parts of the heart as well as its functioning.

Congenital heart defects can interfere with normal blood flow through the heart. The defect can slow down blood flow, go in the wrong direction, go to the wrong place, or completely block the flow.

How does the heart work?

The heart is a muscle that pumps blood throughout the body. It consists of four hollow sections (called chambers). Two are located on the right and two on the left side, with the larger cameras located forward and the smaller ones aft.

Each chamber has a one-way opening, allowing blood to flow in only one direction. The right side of the heart pumps blood to the lungs through vessels called the pulmonary arteries, where the blood is oxygenated. This oxygenated blood then returns to the left side of the heart through the pulmonary veins, through the aorta, and to various parts of the body.

As oxygen is used by the body, the blood becomes darker and returns to the heart through the veins, where the process begins again.

What causes congenital heart defects?

Heart defects can be caused by prenatal environmental risks as well as genetic factors. In most cases, the actual cause of the heart defect is unknown.

Environmental factors

Viral infections. Women who contract rubella (rubella) during the first three months of pregnancy have an increased risk of having a baby with a heart defect. Women should avoid pregnancy for one month after vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella. If a woman is not vaccinated, she should talk to her healthcare provider about the risks.
Medications. Some medicines may increase the risk. These medicines include lithium (used to treat bipolar disorder), Accutane (an acne medicine), and possibly some antiepileptic drugs.
Alcohol. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause heart defects. Children born with fetal alcohol syndrome often have heart problems.
Smoking. Women who smoke early in pregnancy are more likely to have a baby with congenital heart defects. The study shows that women who smoked at some point from the month before conception to the end of the first trimester were 60% more likely to have children with congenital heart defects. Exposure to second-hand smoke also increases the risk of congenital heart defects.
Cocaine. Studies show that cocaine use during pregnancy increases the risk of heart defects in babies.
Chronic diseases of the mother. These include diabetes mellitus, phenylketonuria, and vitamin B folic acid deficiency.

Genetic factors

Heredity. The defects are more common in siblings or descendants of people with heart defects than in those who do not.
Mutations. Several mutations can affect the formation of the heart and lead to congenital heart defects such as atrial septal defect (a hole between the upper chambers of the heart).
Maternal chronic illnesses. More than a third of children born with Down syndrome have heart defects. About 25% of girls with another chromosomal abnormality called Turner syndrome have heart defects.

Can congenital heart defects be detected before birth?

Many heart defects can be detected before birth with a special type of ultrasound called a fetal echocardiogram. Sound waves are used to create an image of the baby's heart. Health care providers can use the information from this ultrasound to diagnose the condition and develop a treatment plan.

Sometimes medications can be used to change the heartbeat and prevent further damage. If the heart defect cannot be cured before birth, doctors will be ready to treat it as soon as it is needed after birth.