Date: February 7- February 14, 2022
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.
The types of congenital heart defects include;
- Atrial Septal Defect
- Atrioventricular Septal Defect
- Coarctation of the Aorta*
- Double-outlet Right Ventricle*
- d-Transposition of the Great Arteries*
- Ebstein Anomaly*
- Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome*
- Interrupted Aortic Arch*
- Pulmonary Atresia*
- Single Ventricle*
- Tetralogy of Fallot*
- Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return*
- Tricuspid Atresia*
- Truncus Arteriosus*
- Ventricular Septal Defect
Signs and Symptoms
- Blue-tinted nails or lips
- Fast or troubled breathing
- Tiredness when feeding
- Sleepiness
Resources
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offer on their website free brochures, factsheets, posters and other educational material: