CHD Facts
Care of the March of Dimes and the American Heart Association
What is the #1 Birth Defect?
Congenital Heart Defect
What is a Congenital Heart Defect or CHD?
Congenital means it was formed before birth.
How many babies are born with a congenital heart defect?
Around 36,000 children are born each year with a heart defect.
How many different types of congenital heart defects are there?
There are approximately 35 different types of congenital heart defects.
Is there a prenatal test to determine congenital heart defects?
Echocardiography can be used before birth to accurately identify many heart defects.
Can congenital heart defects be prevented?
Congenital heart defects cannot be prevented.
What causes a congenital heart defect?
Unfortunately, they have not determined what causes heart defects, however, it is guessed that genetic and natural causes are the contributing factors.
How is congenital heart defects treated?
Today, most heart defects can be corrected or helped with surgery, medicine, or devices such as artificial valves and pacemakers. In the last 25 years, advances in treatment of heart defects have enabled half a million U.S. children with significant heart defects to survive into adulthood.
