Congenital heart disease describes a range of defects that affect the way the heart works. A congenital heart defect is a structural abnormality within the heart that develops before birth. Heart defects include holes in the heart; misplaced, malformed, and/or missing valves, vessels, and heart chambers; or a combination of those. They can be diagnosed prenatally, at birth, later in childhood or even in adulthood. Congenital heart defects are the number one birth defect, occurring in 1 out of 100 people. Nearly 2 million adults in the United States are living with CHD.
To help you get started, here are a few recommended resources to review:
- Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) Care Guidelines
- Adult Congenital Heart Fact Sheet in English and Spanish
- “About ACHA” to learn more about how our organization can support you or your loved one.
- A variety of Educational Q&As, where you will find information about specific heart defects, as well as topics about living with CHD.