CHD: The Facts

CHD, the Basics

Congenital Heart Defects are the most common birth-defect in the world. Affecting 1 in 100 live births across the globe.

There are over 40 known varieties, ranging from the ones that don’t really damage the function of the heart all the way to those that make a heart transplant a matter of survival. Most are congenital flukes, with environmental risk factors including Mother’s Age, Use of Fertility Hormones, Conception through IVF procedures, Smoking While Pregnant, Paternal exposure to toxins such as Agent Orange, and use of some prescription medications while pregnant, playing the biggest role.

Only a few forms of CHD have a known genetic factor, one of these is Dilated Cardio Myopathy, which usually results in heart failure prior to the age of 10.

CHD and other defects tend to occur in clusters, this is particularly true of the less serious varieties. There can be multiple CHDs in a single person (as was true in my case), there can also be issues with the function of other organs or other congenital disorders in addition to one or more CHDs.

People with congenital heart defects are much more likely than the rest of the population to have ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia, OCD, other personality and mood disorders, and Autism.

40% of people on the Autism spectrum have at least one CHD, and 60% of CHD survivors find themselves on the Autism spectrum, though the nature of this correlation is not yet understood by science.

Survivors who don’t need to undergo full transplants will always walk a thin line when it comes to athletic activity. On the one hand, maintaining a healthy weight and doing cardio exercise to keep the heart strong and healthy is essential, on the other hand though, physical and emotional stress in excess is a danger. Most people face the threat of heart attacks and cardiac arrest episodes in later life, but for us they can happen at any age. It’s a delicate balance that requires listening carefully to what one’s body is telling them it can and can’t handle and careful monitoring of a more scientific nature by a congenital cardiologist.