What is congenital heart disease?

(NewsNation) — Anemia in pregnancy can raise the risk of heart defects in the child, a recent U.K.-based study found.

In the United States, about 40,000 babies are born with a heart defect each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of those, 1 in 4 have a critical heart defect.These conditions, known as congenital heart disease, are present at birth and can affect the structure of the heart and its function.



What is congenital heart disease?Congenital heart disease is an issue with the heart's structure at birth, according to the Cleveland Clinic, and can prevent blood from flowing from the heart.Such problems can include a hole in the heart wall, issues with your blood vessels and/or issues with heart valves that control blood flow.‘Sperm race’ hopes to combat declining male fertilityThere are two main types of congenital heart disease: acyanotic and cyanotic.

Acyanotic congenital heart disease, in which blood oxygen levels are acceptable, involves blood pumping through the body in an abnormal way.With cyanotic congenital heart disease, the heart delivers less oxygen to the rest of the body. Babies born with this disease usually require surgery because of low oxygen levels.

What are the symptoms of congenital heart disease?Babies born with congenital heart disease may show symptoms right away or later in life. Symptoms include:Bluish skin, lips or nailsExcessive sleepinessFast breathing or trouble breathingFatigueGetting unusually tired or out of breath during exercise.Heart murmurPoor blood circulationWeak pulse or pounding heartbeat.