Date: February 7- February 14, 2024

Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week is observed each year during February 7-14 to promote awareness and education about congenital heart defects. The disorder affects approximately one in 100 births every year in the United States and are the most common type of birth defect. It is estimated that 1 million children and 1.4 million adults in the United States were living with a congenital heart defect.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC. 1 in 157 children and 1 in 680 adolescents and adults had a heart defect. Heart defects are lifelong conditions that require ongoing specialty medical care.

CDC also reports that heart defects are  up to 8 times more likely to have a disability than adults without heart defects. Findings show that:

• About 4 in every 10 adults with heart defects have a disability, with cognitive disabilities.
• People with heart defect and at least one disability are more than likely to describe themselves as having poor mental or physical health.
• Congenital heart defects affect nearly 1% or about 40,000- births per year in the United States.
• CHD’s are the leading cause of birth defect-associated infant illness and death.
• About 20% to30% of people with a CHD have other physical problems or developmental or cognitive disorders.
• Children with CHD are about 50% more likely to receive special education services compared to children without birth defects.
• The occurrence and severity of a developmental disability or delay increases with how complex the heart defects is.

The types of congenital heart defects include;

1. atrioventricular septal defect (AV Canal)- a condition caused by the Septum failure to close properly. This occurs during the embryonic stage and results in a large opening at the center of the heart.
2. Persistent Ductus Arteriosus- when a tube that continues to exists after a baby is born. It is a persistent opening between the two major blood vessels leading from the heart.
3. Tetralogy of Fallot- a heart condition composed of four abnormalities: 1) Ventricular Septal Defect 2) a narrowing of the passage from the right ventricular to the lungs 3) an over enlarged right ventricle due to blood back up 4) an over enlarged aorta, which carries blood from the left ventricle to the body.

Congenital Heart Disease can range from severe to mild. Typically, students do not require special care. For those with more severe heart issues, be aware of the signs and symptoms of a student heart disease is getting worse. This includes:

1. Arrhythmia, an abnormal heart rhythm that can cause the heart to beat fast or too slow
2. Congenital heart failure- when the heart cannot pump enough blood and oxygen to meet the needs of the body.
3. Pulmonary hypertension- a type of high blood pressure that affects the arteries in the lungs and the right side of the heart.

4. Signs and symptoms include:

• shortness of breath
• fatigue and weakness
• swelling
• rapid or irregular heartbeat
• persistent cough

Things to be aware of in students with heart issues:

• Tires easily or becomes short of breath after exercise.
• May have exercise restrictions.
• May need extra time to go and from classes.

Updated 2/3/24.