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CHD can range from mild to severe. A mild case would be simply a small hole in the heart while severe could be as intense as missing entire parts of the heart or large parts being poorly formed.

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It is the most common type of birth defect. It affects nearly 40,000 babies per year and this number is only increasing. 25% of babies born with CHD have critical CHD meaning they will need surgery or another serious procedure in their first year of life.

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If an adult is aware they have CHD, the chances of passing it onto their child is 50% so a secure way of prevention is to not have children. Other ways of prevention include:
-do not drink alcohol
-do not take medication
-take 400 micrograms of folic acid supplements a day during first pregnancy trimester to lower the risk

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These factors are known to have links to babies being born with CHD:
-abnormal amount of chromosomes in infant
-single gene defects
-enviromental factors
-an unknowingly pregnant mother taking substances in the beginning of her pregnancy
-mothers taking lithium to treat depression
-mothers who experience seizure and take anti-seizure medication
-mothers who have PKU but do not follow the special diet
-mothers with insulin-dependent diabetes
-mothers with lupus
-a mother who contracts Rubella during her pregnancy
-a parent with CHD has a 50% chance of passing it onto their child, with each child, and males and females are affected equally

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The cause is an abnormal formation of the heart while the patient was going through fetal development in the womb.

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Treatment depends on the type of defect, the severity, the patients general health, age, and size. However, some common treatments are catheter procedures, heart transplants, surgery, and medicine.

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-inefficient blood circulation
-cyanosis (a bluish tint to the fingernails, lips, and skin)
-fatigue
-rapid breathing
-many congenital heart defects have few or no symptoms at all

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This disease is an abnormal structure of the heart. It is present at birth. Possible areas involved can include the heart valves, heart walls, and the veins and arteries near the heart. The blood flow can be disrupted, blocked, misdirected, or stopped completely.