Congenital Heart Defects

Articles

Feb 1

Our heart is our most important organ. Actually, our brain will “flatline” without a beating heart after about 20 seconds. The heart pumps 2,000 gallons of blood each minute, bringing essential nutrients, oxygen, and hormones to other centers in the body. Statistically, a baby is born with a congenital heart defect (CHD) every 15 minutes. This amounts to roughly 1 in every 100 births resulting in a congenital heart defect. This February, we are bringing awareness to congenital heart defects as part of American Heart Healthy Month. We will discuss what a congenital heart defect is, the different types of congenital heart defects, signs, symptoms, and preventative measures, and, lastly, how science and technology have improved the odds for those born with a congenital heart defect.

What is a Congenital Heart Defect?

According to the CDC, “CHDs are present at birth and can affect the structure of a baby’s heart and the way it works. They can affect how blood flows through the heart and out to the rest of the body. CHDs can vary from mild (such as a small hole in the heart) to severe (such as missing or poorly formed parts of the heart).” Congenital heart defects are the most common birth defect in the United States.

How many types of congenital heart defects are there?

There are fifteen different types of congenital heart defects, and twelve of them are considered critical. In alphabetical order, they are:

Signs and Symptoms of Congenital Heart Defects

The most common signs and symptoms associated with congenital heart defects are blue-tinted nails or lips. This is a visual representation of low oxygen in the blood due to poor circulation. Fast or troubled breathing is related to heart and lung problems. If you notice your baby’s breathing is fast-paced, or it appears they are struggling to catch their breath, it is imperative you visit a medical facility immediately. Sleepiness and/or tiredness while feeding occurs when there isn’t enough oxygen in the baby’s blood.

Can you Prevent a Congenital Heart Defect?

While there are no definitive reasons why babies are born with congenital heart defects, the following factors have been found to influence a developing baby’s heart. According to Stanford Medical, they are:

Seizure disorder and the need to take antiseizure medicines
Taking lithium to treat depression
Having phenylketonuria (PKU) and not staying on the special PKU diet during pregnancy
Insulin-dependent diabetes, especially if blood sugar is not well-controlled
Lupus
A connective tissue disorder
A pregnancy from assisted reproductive technology (ART)
Rubella

If one of the parents has a congenital heart defect, there is a 50% chance the baby will develop a congenital heart defect. Between 18 and 22 weeks of pregnancy, your doctor may recommend a fetal echocardiography exam. This test checks for major heart defects in the fetus so the family and healthcare team can discuss options and plan accordingly.

Outside of genetics, there are three main exposures a woman can begin managing before pregnancy to reduce the risk of their baby developing a congenital heart defect. These are obesity, diabetes, and smoking.

Obesity

Studies show that women struggling with obesity before and during their pregnancy were at an increased of birthing a child with CHD. Therefore, if you are trying to conceive, or if you are expecting, it is best to get a little exercise each day and prioritize nutrition when it comes to your favorite meals and snacks. Your health insurance policy may cover visits with a nutritionist or dietician to help you better understand where to make health-conscious food swaps.

Diabetes

Unfortunately, diabetes increases the risk of giving birth to a baby with a congenital birth defect. Diabetes can increase oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and apoptosis. The endoplasmic reticulum is found in the cytoplasm of a cell. Its primary function is to process proteins, store calcium, and metabolize fats. If the endoplasmic reticulum is damaged, the cell isn’t able to function properly, and this can lead to other complications - especially during pregnancy.

Smoking

Lastly, smoking! This one is likely obvious. We know smoking is bad for us. Just before and during pregnancy, smoking can cause lung and brain damage, increase the risk of a heart defect, cleft lip or palate, and miscarriage. If you do smoke and are trying to conceive or are pregnant, the best thing you can do for your health and your baby’s health is to stop smoking. This includes vape products, patches, and gum. Avoiding tobacco and nicotine use will improve your odds against the many health complications that can occur.

How Science and Technology have improved CHD

Since the invention of the heart-lung machine in the 1950s, medical innovations have continued to improve lives. What used to require open heart surgery can sometimes be done without surgery and without anesthesia. A story published by whyy.org shares how a new procedure helped an 18-year-old young man named Jack Hurley repair a valve in his heart with almost no downtime, allowing him to return to life as usual very shortly after. This new procedure is called Harmony Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve (TPV) and was manufactured by Medtronic, a company based in Minnesota. Amazingly, this is a nonsurgical option that can be completed in one day and doesn’t require 6 weeks of recovery. In fact, most patients are able to go home the next day.

Living with CHD

It is estimated that more than 2,000,000 people in the United States live with a congenital heart defect. As medical care and treatment continue to improve, more people born with a CHD will live long, healthy lives, but living with a CHD can be disruptive and lead to other issues. It is estimated that less than 10% of Americans with CHD receive proper care. At Tilton’s Therapy for Tots, we aim to help individuals of all ages improve their quality of life and independence to the maximum possible level to support families.