Congenital Heart Disease

What can be done to prevent the disease?

Often nothing can be done to prevent CHD. Women of childbearing age should make sure they have received all standard vaccines. This can help prevent cases due to certain viral infections during pregnancy, such as rubella. Avoidance of alcohol and substance abuse during pregnancy will prevent those causes of CHD.

What are the long-term effects of the disease?

Small defects may eventually repair themselves and cause no long-term effects. The long-term effects usually depend on how severe the CHD is. Some untreated heart defects can be fatal. Larger defects usually cause more symptoms. Whether or not surgery can repair the defect will greatly affect the outcome.

Until the defect is corrected, the heart is under a lot of strain. The heart can get larger in size and may not beat in a normal rhythm. People who have this disease can develop high blood pressure, and their lungs can become congested. Those with heart defects are often at an increased risk for heart infections, which may be life threatening.

What are the risks to others?

CHD itself is not catching and poses no risk to others. However, infections that cause CHD, such as the rubella virus, may be contagious. Genetic causes of CHD may be passed on to one's children. Genetic counseling may be helpful for some parents.