About one of every 100 babies has a structural heart problem--a congenital (present at birth) heart defect.
These defects are the most common form of major birth defect, affecting 30,000 American babies each year.
A baby's heart begins to form shortly after conception, and by the end of the second month of pregnancy, the heart is completely formed. It is during this time that heart defects can occur. A congenital cardiovascular defect occurs when the heart or blood vessels near the heart don't develop normally before birth.
While no one knows for sure what causes most of these defects, both environmental and hereditary factors can play a role:
- A serious viral infection, like German measles (rubella), during pregnancy
- Alcohol and drug abuse
- Chronic illnesses
- Heredity
Some heart defects are so mild that the child can lead a very normal, active life for many years. Other heart defects are so severe that the child's life is in immediate danger. In most cases, heart defects either obstruct blood flow in the heart or vessels near it, or cause blood to flow through the heart in an abnormal pattern.
Symptoms of significant heart problems in newborns include rapid breathing, blueness of lips, and failure to thrive. In older children, signs might include fatigue, difficulty exercising, and chest pain.
Heart Murmurs
A heart murmur is often caused by defective heart valves and is not really a medical diagnosis. Murmur describes the sound the blood makes as it flows through the heart. Valve malfunctions include:
- A stenotic heart valve has a smaller-than-normal opening and can't open completely. A valve also may be unable to close completely. This leads to regurgitation, which is blood leaking backward through the valve when it should be closed.
- A diastolic murmur occurs when the heart muscle relaxes between beats.
- A systolic murmur occurs when the heart muscle contracts.
Most heart murmurs are functional or innocent, meaning the murmur is produced by a normal heart. It poses no threat to the child and generally goes away as the child gets older. "Innocent heart murmurs are very common in children of preschool or early elementary grade age. By the time they reach teenage years, many will no longer have the murmur heard," says Larry Mahoney, M.D., University of Iowa Children's Hospital pediatric cardiologist.
Some murmurs may indicate a problem with the heart. If your child's physician suspects more than an innocent murmur, your child will be referred to a pediatric cardiologist for testing and diagnosis.
University of Iowa Children's Hospital offers a full spectrum of diagnostic and clinical services for pediatric cardiology patients. "We have the only pediatric echocardiography (ultrasound) laboratory in Iowa that is nationally
accredited in transthoracic, transesophageal and fetal studies," says Mahoney.
The Statistics*
- 4,109 Americans died from cardiovascular defects in 2001.
- About one million Americans with cardiovascular defects are alive today.
- From 1991 to 2001, death rates from congenital cardiovascular defects declined 28.6 percent.
- At least 35 types of cardiovascular defects are recognized.
* from the American Heart Association
Birth Defects
One in 33 American babies is born with a birth defect.
While heart defects are the most common major defect, other common defects include:
- Neural tube defects (spina bifida and anencephaly)
- Cleft palate or lip
- Down syndrome
What Causes Birth Defects?
- Women over the age of 35 have a greater risk of having a child with Down syndrome than women who are younger.
- Alcohol and 'street' drug use during pregnancy escalate the possibility of birth defects.
- Smoking during pregnancy leads to a greater chance of having a small baby. Birth defects such as cleft palate, clubfoot, limb defects, and some heart defects may be the result of smoking during pregnancy.
- Viral infections, such as measles, mumps, and rubella during pregnancy increase the possibility of birth defects.
- Lack of adequate Folic acid can lead to neural tube defects. This B vitamin is found in enriched foods and vitamin pills.
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