Physicians Health

Congenital heart disease affects many children. It is the number one (#1) birth defect in every country of the world. It is also the largest cause of infant deaths. There are more than 1,000,000 babies born throughout the world that have congenital heart disease each year and 10% of them will not live to see their first birthday.

In the United States there are 40,000 babies born with this heart disease each year. This is about 1 in 100 babies each year are born with a heart defect. Out of this 40,000 thousands will pass away from complications of congenital heart disease before they have lived a year. Thousands more will pass away before reaching adulthood.

While congenital heart disease is a leading factor in heart failure in children there are also a number of children that are diagnosed with a condition know as congestive heart disease. It occurs when the heart is unable to pump as much blood as the body requires to perform at peak levels. The causes are varied. Sometimes the heart is not formed properly, but usually it is more of a weak heart muscle or other complications.

In recent years the emergency professionals and medical professionals have found that there have been a high number of deaths that appear to be from congestive heart disease, but upon further investigation it has come to light that cocaine, meth and other street drugs can mimic heart problems.

There are many infants and children that are affected by these two types of heart diseases. The frustrating thing is that while treatments are improving there are still way too many lives being lost to congenital heart disease and congestive heart disease among children.

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