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How common are congenital heart defects?

April 26, 2017common congenital defects heart

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How common are congenital heart defects?

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A. Congenital birth defects comprise the single most common category of birth defects in American children. In fact, one in 100 live births is affected by some form of congenital heart defect.

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Heart defects are among the most common birth defects. Each year more than 25,000 U.S. infants are born with heart defects. These defects can be very mild, exhibiting no symptoms for many years, or they can be severe, requiring immediate attention at birth. In most cases, doctors cannot pinpoint what causes a baby’s heart to develop abnormally. So far, scientists believe there are both environmental and genetic factors that contribute to congenital heart defects. Women who contract rubella or some other viral infections may have a greater risk of having a baby with a heart defect. Certain chronic illnesses in the mother, such as diabetes, can increase the risk of congenital heart defects in the baby. Doctors have identified certain drugs, such as some taken for acne and depression, as risk factors. Studies have also shown that cocaine or alcohol use during pregnancy can increase the risk of heart defects in the developing baby.