Every year from February 7th to February 14th, Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week promotes awareness and provides education about congenital heart defects.
Congenital heart defects (CHDs) happen more often than you might think. They are certainly the most common birth defects, affecting approximately 1 in every 110 babies. One in 4 of these children will need surgery or some kind of medical intervention to survive.
For many forms of CHD, surgery is not a cure. Congenital heart disease can be a lifelong condition requiring specialised care, and often additional surgeries and medications are needed later in life. Most causes of congenital heart defects are unknown, though research is ongoing into genetic links and potential ways to prevent or at least reduce their severity.
As today is the start of Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week, we urge our followers to learn more about CHD, share knowledge and find ways to get involved in the raising of awareness. For example, @Mended Hearts is a US-based organisation offering support and resources to families affected by CHD, and they run various initiatives to raise money and spread peer-to-peer support across a global network.