THE ABC's of Congenital Heart Defects
A – APPROXIMITELY 40,000 babies are born each year in the United States with a CHD.
B – BABIES often do not show signs and symptoms of a heart defect.
C – CHD = Congenital Heart Defect
D – DOLLAR: Of every dollar the government spends on medical funding only a fraction of a penny is directed toward congenital heart defect research.
E – ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY can be used before birth to accurately identify many heart defects. The Fetal Echo is a noninvasive procedure, much like a regular ultrasound. It can be done in 20 to 60 minutes, depending on the positioning of the baby. It is done with sound waves. If this test shows that a fetus’s heart is beating too fast or too slowly (called an arrhythmia), the mother can be treated with medications that may restore a normal heart rhythm in the fetus.
F – FUNDING: Twice as many children die from congenital heart defects each year than from all forms of childhood cancer combined, yet funding for pediatric cancer research is five times higher than funding for CHD.
G – GREAT ARTERIES: TGA - Transposition of the great arteries: Transposition occurs when the positions of the two major arteries leaving the heart are reversed so that each arises from the wrong pumping chamber. Affected newborns suffer from severe cyanosis due to a lack of oxygen in the blood. Recent surgical advances make it possible to correct this serious defect in the newborn period.
H – HLHS: Hypoplastic left heart syndrome: This combination of defects results in a left ventricle (the heart’s main pumping chamber) that is too small to support life. Without treatment, this defect is usually fatal in the first few weeks of life. However, over the last 25 years, survival rates have dramatically improved with new surgical procedures and, less frequently, heart transplants.
I – INPATIENT SURGERY: The cost for inpatient surgery to repair congenital heart defects exceeds $2.2 billion a year.
J – JUMPING, playing, and living life: When detected and treated properly, a CHD child can have a happy and healthy life.
K – KNOWN CAUSE: Despite much research, in the majority of cases, Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) occur without any known cause.
L – Oxygen LEVELS: Pulse oximetry is a simple bedside test to determine the amount of oxygen in a baby’s blood and the baby’s pulse rate. Low levels of oxygen in the blood can be a sign of a CCHD. The test is done using a machine called a pulse oximeter, with sensors placed on the baby’s skin. The test is painless and takes only a few minutes. Screening is done when a baby is 24 to 48 hours of age, or as late as possible if the baby is to be discharged from the hospital before he or she is 24 hours of age.
M – MITRAL VALVE STENOSIS: the Mitral Valve in the heart opens to let oxygenated blood to pass into the left ventricle, and then closes as it is pumped into the aorta and so around the body. Stenosis means that it is narrow, and therefore not allowing enough blood through and causing a backflow to the lungs.
N – NUMBER ONE birth defect.
O – ONE in ONE HUNDRED children are born with a CHD, with more occurrences than Spina Bifida, Down syndrome or hearing loss yet many are not aware of this condition.
P – PDA: Patent ductus arteriosus - Before birth, a large artery (ductus arteriosus) lets the blood bypass the lungs because the fetus gets its oxygen through the placenta. The ductus normally closes soon after birth so that blood can travel to the lungs and pick up oxygen. If it doesn’t close, the baby may develop heart failure. This problem occurs most frequently in premature babies. Treatment with medicine during the early days of life often can close the ductus. If that doesn't work, surgery is needed.
Q – QUESTION: If you think something isn’t right with your child, please trust your instincts.
R – REOCCURANCE: Parents who have already had a child with a heart defect do have an increased risk of having other affected children, often with the same heart defect.
S – SURGERIES: More than 50% of all children born with a congenital heart defect will require at least one invasive surgery in their lifetime.
T – TYPES: There are approximately 35 different types of congenital heart defects.
U – UNINSURED: A significant number of adults with CHD in the U.S. report having problems obtaining insurance and coverage for specialized care.
V – VIRUSES: Sometimes the common cold can be a danger for children and adults with a CHD.
W – WATCH for common Signs and Symptoms in your child. Parents should be alert to the following symptoms in infancy: Tires easily during feeding (i.e. falls asleep before feeding finishes), Sweating around the head, especially during feeding, Fast breathing when at rest or sleeping, Pale or bluish skin color, Poor weight gain Sleeps a lot - not playful or curious for any length of time, Puffy face, hands, and/or feet, Often irritable, difficult to console.
X – eXTENDED CARE: Fewer than 10% of adults with CHDs in the U.S. who need care from specialty adult CHD centers are receiving this recommended care.
Y – YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE – by helping Hope for Hearts spread awareness.
Z – ZERO: As of today there is no population-based tracking program that exists to collect data on children and adults with congenital hearts defects.
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Hearts of Hope
Hearts of Hope is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization located in the Metro-Detroit area and was founded by a group of mothers whose children all share a complex heart defect. We are dedicated to providing support, hope, resources, and networking to families affected by congenital heart defects.
Visit Hearts of Hope here: http://www.heartsofhopemi.org/
Visit Hearts of Hope here: http://www.heartsofhopemi.org/
Children's Hospital of Michigan
Children need a hospital all their own, where they come first. They need a
hospital where specialists hold their hands and pediatric experts are always
ready. With more than 40 specialties, the Children’s Hospital of Michigan sees
more kids and trains more pediatric medical and surgical experts than any other
hospital in the state. For 125 years, the Children's Hospital of Michigan is the
hospital where all we know and everything we do is just for them.
Visit Children's Hospital of Michigan here: http://www.childrensdmc.org/
Visit Children's Hospital of Michigan here: http://www.childrensdmc.org/